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2024 state visit by Sheikh Hasina to China

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2024 state visit by Sheikh Hasina to China
DateJuly 8–10, 2024 (2024-07-08 – 2024-07-10)
VenueBeijing
Organised by

At the invitation of Premier of China Li Qiang, Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh, paid an official visit to China from July 8 to 10, 2024.[1]

In June, Hasina had visited India. So this visit to China is also seen as her attempt to seek opportunities to mediate between China and India.[2][3][4]

Background

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On June 24, Hasina met in Dhaka with Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, who led a delegation to Bangladesh.[5]

On July 4, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference that the visit is Hasina's first visit to China since she started her new term. The two leaders will have an in-depth exchange of views on deepening traditional friendship, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern. Hasina will also attend the China-Bangladesh Business Trade and Investment Conference.[6]

Itinerary

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Hasina arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport on July 8, 2024.[7]

On July 9, Hasina called on the president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Jin Liqun, for extending the cooperation and investment matters. Then, Hasina attended the Bangladesh-China Summit on "Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities" at the China International Exhibition Center of the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing. In the afternoon, she met with Wang Huning, the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Beijing.[8][9] The Premier then laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square.[7]

On the morning of July 10, Premier Li Qiang held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Hasina. After the talks, the two premiers witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of policy exchanges, economy, trade and investment, digital economy, inspection and quarantine, healthcare, education and media. The two sides announced the completion of the joint feasibility study on China-Bangladesh FTA and agreed to start negotiations on upgrading the China–Bangladesh Investment Agreement. The two sides agreed to designate 2025 as the "Year of China-Bangladesh Humanities Exchange".[10] In the afternoon, President of China Xi Jinping met with Hasina at the Great Hall of the People. The two leaders announced the upgrading of China-Bangladesh relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership".[11][12] The two sides positively commented on the completion of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River, modernization of the communication network, the Bangladesh Government Infrastructure Network Phase III project, the Single Point Mooring and Twin Line Pipeline projects. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress of major projects of China-Bangladesh cooperation such as Padma Bridge Railway Link, expansion and upgrading of Dhaka District Grid System, Grid Enhancement Project of Bangladesh Electricity Grid Corporation (BEGC), Dhaka–Ashulia Elevated Expressway, Rajshahi Surface Water Treatment Plant, etc.[13][14]

At 10 a.m. on the morning of July 11, she led the delegation back to Bangladesh.[7]

Outcomes

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On July 10, 20 cooperation agreements were signed and new projects were launched.[15] During the visit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced $1 billion in economic assistance, and Hasina invited China to increase its investment in Bangladesh's Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Bangabandhu Industrial Park (BIP), where an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) has been allocated exclusively for Chinese investors.[16]

Bangladesh plans to negotiate a loan of about $5 billion with China to boost the country's dwindling foreign exchange reserves. The money will be denominated in Renminbi and will provide exporters with access to finance to pay for much-needed raw materials imported from China. But the two sides did not reach an agreement on the deal at the talks.[17][18][19][20]

On July 13, Hasina said in Dhaka that although China is willing to participate in the Teesta River project, Bangladesh is still handing over the project to India due to geopolitical considerations.[21][22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kanunjna, Anupam Deb (2024-07-08). "Bangladesh PM visits Beijing as China, India eye influence". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  2. ^ Rizve, Saqlain (2024-07-17). "Bangladesh's Tough Tightrope Walk Between India and China". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh prefers India over China in $1 billion river project". The Economic Times. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  4. ^ "Days After India Visit, Bangladesh PM In China To Hold Talks With Xi Jinping". NDTV. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  5. ^ "孟加拉国人民联盟主席、政府总理哈西娜会见刘建超". 中共中央对外联络部 International Department, Central Committee of C.P.C (in Chinese). 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  6. ^ "外交部发言人介绍孟加拉国总理哈西娜访华安排-新华网". 新华网_让新闻离你更近 (in Chinese). 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  7. ^ a b c "PM returns home from China". The Daily Star. -BSS. 11 July 2024.
  8. ^ Xie, Kawala (2024-07-10). "China and Bangladesh vow to fight external interference and boost cooperation". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  9. ^ "王沪宁会见孟加拉国总理哈西娜_中华人民共和国外交部". 中华人民共和国外交部 (in Chinese). 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  10. ^ "李强同孟加拉国总理哈西娜会谈_中华人民共和国外交部". 中华人民共和国外交部 (in Chinese). 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  11. ^ "习近平会见孟加拉国总理哈西娜_中华人民共和国外交部". 中华人民共和国外交部 (in Chinese). 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  12. ^ "习近平会见孟加拉国总理哈西娜__中国政府网". 中国政府网_中央人民政府门户网站 (in Chinese). 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  13. ^ "中华人民共和国和孟加拉人民共和国关于建立全面战略合作伙伴关系的联合声明(全文)". 中华人民共和国外交部 (in Chinese). 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  14. ^ "中华人民共和国和孟加拉人民共和国关于建立全面战略合作伙伴关系的联合声明". paper.people.com.cn. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  15. ^ "Hasina, XI Talks: Economy, trade to be in focus". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  16. ^ Khasru, Syed Munir (2024-07-12). "Why Bangladesh's India-China balancing act is becoming increasingly difficult". The Indian Express (Opinion). Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  17. ^ "据报中国将贷款50亿美元给孟加拉". 联合早报 (in Chinese). 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  18. ^ "Bangladesh PM arrives in China on 'balancing' visit following India trip". Benar News. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  19. ^ "Bangladesh upset with China? PM Sheikh Hasina cuts short her Beijing trip". The Economic Times. 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  20. ^ "China and Bangladesh reaffirm their ties as territorial and economic issues rise in the region". AP News. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  21. ^ "Bangladesh prefers India over China in $1 billion river project". The Economic Times. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  22. ^ "China ready but prefer India: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on $1-bn Teesta project". Business Today. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
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