‘Xi’s visit a strong political message’
Chinese president's tour expected to take relationship to next level
Analysts believe Chinese President Xi Jinping is coming to Bangladesh with a strong political message to take the relationship to the next level.
Bangladesh is important for China for strategic reason while Dhaka needs Beijing assistance for its development effort and the visit will take the political leadership to come closer.
Xi Jinping is coming to Dhaka on October 14.
Former Bangladesh ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmad told the Dhaka Tribune that the visit would forge a strong relationship between the two political leaderships.
He said Dhaka and Beijing have enjoyed a strong relationship historically and it would be stronger in the coming days.
In his view, three countries are the most important for Bangladesh’s foreign policy and those are India, the US and China.
China is important for Bangladesh for its contribution to economic development and Beijing has the capacity and willing to assist Dhaka, he said.
Xi Jinping is the second Chinese president to visit Dhaka. In 1986, the then Chinese president Li Xiannian came to Dhaka.
Munshi Faiz said when a Chinese president visits a country like Bangladesh, they announce big economic packages for the country and it is expected it will not be an exception this time.
“We hope that many documents will be signed during the visit and a hefty package would be announced for assisting our development efforts,” he said.
He said China would only give what Bangladesh can absorb.
Subscribing to the same view, former Bangladesh ambassador to India Liaquat Ali Chowdhury said China was very pragmatic and would not pursue anything that is not welcomed in Dhaka.
“China tries to consolidate its position but if they understand any difficulty in doing so, they will not push,” he said.
Liaquat Ali said the visit of the Chinese president shows the importance of Bangladesh and Xi Jinping would carry a message to take the relationship to new heights.
Currently Dhaka and Beijing have a Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation agreement that outlines an all-encompassing bilateral relations strategy.
A joint statement issued during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China in 2014 said: “The two sides viewed each other’s development as opportunities to further expand and raise the closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation between the two countries to a newer height.”
Liaquat Ali said China was the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh and the relationship was mostly economic in nature.
Beijing is pursuing its long-term strategy of ‘One Belt One Road’ and Dhaka is an important component of that plan. China would do whatever is necessary to make Bangladesh comfortable to join the bandwagon, the diplomat said.
“China wants to invest in Bangladesh heavily and that is very important for Dhaka,” he added.
A senior government official said 25 projects worth over $20 billion would be finalised during the visit of the Chinese president.
“We are working on it and hopefully the projects would be okayed by both the governments before his visit,” he said.
- Sheikh Shahariar Zaman
- Published at 12:23 AM September 29, 2016
- Last updated at 12:25 AM September 29, 2016
Chinese president's tour expected to take relationship to next level
Analysts believe Chinese President Xi Jinping is coming to Bangladesh with a strong political message to take the relationship to the next level.
Bangladesh is important for China for strategic reason while Dhaka needs Beijing assistance for its development effort and the visit will take the political leadership to come closer.
Xi Jinping is coming to Dhaka on October 14.
Former Bangladesh ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmad told the Dhaka Tribune that the visit would forge a strong relationship between the two political leaderships.
He said Dhaka and Beijing have enjoyed a strong relationship historically and it would be stronger in the coming days.
In his view, three countries are the most important for Bangladesh’s foreign policy and those are India, the US and China.
China is important for Bangladesh for its contribution to economic development and Beijing has the capacity and willing to assist Dhaka, he said.
Xi Jinping is the second Chinese president to visit Dhaka. In 1986, the then Chinese president Li Xiannian came to Dhaka.
Munshi Faiz said when a Chinese president visits a country like Bangladesh, they announce big economic packages for the country and it is expected it will not be an exception this time.
“We hope that many documents will be signed during the visit and a hefty package would be announced for assisting our development efforts,” he said.
He said China would only give what Bangladesh can absorb.
Subscribing to the same view, former Bangladesh ambassador to India Liaquat Ali Chowdhury said China was very pragmatic and would not pursue anything that is not welcomed in Dhaka.
“China tries to consolidate its position but if they understand any difficulty in doing so, they will not push,” he said.
Liaquat Ali said the visit of the Chinese president shows the importance of Bangladesh and Xi Jinping would carry a message to take the relationship to new heights.
Currently Dhaka and Beijing have a Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation agreement that outlines an all-encompassing bilateral relations strategy.
A joint statement issued during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China in 2014 said: “The two sides viewed each other’s development as opportunities to further expand and raise the closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation between the two countries to a newer height.”
Liaquat Ali said China was the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh and the relationship was mostly economic in nature.
Beijing is pursuing its long-term strategy of ‘One Belt One Road’ and Dhaka is an important component of that plan. China would do whatever is necessary to make Bangladesh comfortable to join the bandwagon, the diplomat said.
“China wants to invest in Bangladesh heavily and that is very important for Dhaka,” he added.
A senior government official said 25 projects worth over $20 billion would be finalised during the visit of the Chinese president.
“We are working on it and hopefully the projects would be okayed by both the governments before his visit,” he said.
