China and Bangladesh on Friday signed nine agreements after a meeting with Muhammad Yunus’s President Xi Jinping, during which the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh highlighted the student protests, which led to the change of governance in Dhaka and urged Beijing to play “more role” in establishing peace and stability.
Additionally, Bangladesh’s official news agency BSS reported that Bangladesh committed a 2.1 billion USD in investment, loans and grants from the Chinese government and its companies.
Bangladesh welcomed Chinese companies to participate in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), according to a joint statement released after a meeting between Yunas and Xi.
The previous Hasina government wanted India to project the Tista River Basin.
The joint statement said that Bangladesh welcomed Chinese companies to participate in the modernization and expansion project of Mongla Port facilities.
After his talks with Xi, the two countries signed nine agreements to increase economic and technical cooperation between the two governments and said cooperation in the fields of development, translation and publication of classical literary work, cultural heritage, news exchange and media, and health sectors, and health sectors, state-operated news agency Bangladash Sangbash (BSS).
As the two leaders discussed issues related to bilateral interest, Yuns urged China to play more role in establishing peace, prosperity and stability for both countries, the BSS report said.
Yunse’s visit to China is seen deeply as it is scheduled to attend the Bimstec summit in Bangkok next week, where he has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has not yet confirmed the meeting.
High-scale protests of last year’s July-August students in Bangladesh, to the exit of the Sheikh Hasina government, Yunus said that the movement paved a way to create “New Bangladesh”.
Prior to her expulsion last year, Hasina also traveled a high-profile visit to Beijing, during which she interacted with Xi.
The interim government headed by Younus took over after fleeing India on 5 August.
Xi spoke on her behalf, about the prolonged history of the “friendly exchanges” between the two countries and said that China has maintained a high level of stability and continuity in relations with Bangladesh and Beijing, which is a trusted neighbor, friend and dhaka’s companions, the state-operated Xenhua news agency.
The Chinese President said that China will continue to provide zero -tariff facilities to Bangladesh goods and expand the situation by the end of 2028 – at least two years after Bangladesh’s scheduled graduation from the developed country, a statement by Yunas’s office said in Dhaka.
He said that a free trade agreement and investment agreement with Beijing Dhaka would like to start negotiations to pave the way for more Chinese investment in the South Asian nation.
Yunus demanded a 50 -year master plan from Beijing for its river water management, calling China a “master of water management”.
The BSS said that during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Advisor, Chinese Water Resources Minister Lee Guying, the Prime Minister, praising the Chinese water and flood management system, said that the country did a miracle in managing some infallible water issues, the BSS said.
Ever since the Yunus government took over, China has hosted several Bangladesh delegations, including Bangladesh advisor Tauhid Hussain and hardcore Islamic parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Analysts here say that in the same Beijing Dhaka is looking carefully at the unknown chaotic situation and the increasing pressure on 84 -year -old Younus to make a major commitment.
In addition to nine agreements, Bangladesh and China have agreed to strengthen cooperation in such areas such as hydrological forecasts, flood prevention and disaster deficiency, river dreging, integrated management of water resources, development of water resources, development and related technology sharing, BSS.
Both sides spoke positively about the signature of the MOU’s implementation scheme on the exchange of hydrological information of Yarlung Jangbo and Jamuna River. The Brahmaputra River is called Yarlung Jangbo and Jamuna in Tibet in Bangladesh.
India and China had a similar MoU to exchange river data.
Bangladesh and China also agreed to strengthen exchanges on maritime matters and hold a new round of negotiations on maritime cooperation at a reasonable time, saying in the Bangladesh media report.
Yunus, who is on a four -day visit, participated in the Boao Forum in China for the annual conference of Asia in Hainan after his arrival on Wednesday.
He arrived at Beijing on Thursday night and was received at the airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weg.
Prior to his meeting with Xi, Younus on Thursday called for a reduction of three percent to 1-2 percent in interest rates for Chinese loans in Bangladesh and sought a discount of commitment fee on Chinese-funded projects in Bangladesh.
In his meeting with Chinese Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on the banks of the Boao Forum for the annual conference of Asia, Younus demanded Chinese support for an array of development projects.
According to a report by Bangladesh’s Daily Star newspaper, China is the fourth largest lender in Bangladesh after Japan, World Bank and Asian Development Bank, the total loan has come to USD 7.5 billion since 1975.
Yunus’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam said that Xi reiterated the support of China to the Chief Advisor and his interim government and considered his request about the loan.
Xi has assured Yunus that her country will encourage Chinese investment and transfer of Chinese manufacturing enterprises in Bangladesh.
The Yumns government is pitching from China for an innings of industries to close the heavy tariffs being put on Chinese goods by US President Donald Trump.
Later, while addressing a meeting of Chinese investors, Younus urged him to increase his investment in Bangladesh, which could be a transport destination in the region.
According to Bangladesh media reports, both sides discussed various strategic bilateral issues, trade and investment growth, agriculture, infrastructure, support for renewable energy sectors, and Rohingya issues along with the Rohingya issue, as well as the Rohingya issue, along with the Rohingya issue, discussed the overall issues of mutual interest between the two countries.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)