2024-07-08 12:50:55
Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is leaving on a four-day visit to China on Monday. This visit of Sheikh Hasina is taking place two weeks after her visit to India. During this visit of Hasina, many important agreements are expected to be signed between Bangladesh and China. The statements coming from Dhaka before this visit are also being considered as an indication of Bangladesh’s inclination towards China. In such a situation, India, another important power in the region, is also keeping an eye on this visit. This is Sheikh Hasina’s fifth visit to China and her first visit after assuming the post of PM for the fourth consecutive time. India will keep a close eye on what impact the Bangladesh-China bilateral relations will have on its own strategic interests.
Bilateral visits between neighbouring countries are common but a visit by any leader to China often gives rise to speculation and concerns. This is also the case with Sheikh Hasina’s visit, especially as India has significant interest in the outcome of the visit. The developments of Hasina’s four-day visit could potentially reshape India’s relations with China and Bangladesh as well. At least 20 MoUs are expected to be signed during Hasina’s Beijing visit. These include areas such as economic and banking, trade and investment, digital economy, infrastructure development, disaster management, construction of Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, agricultural exports and enhancing people-to-people contacts.
Bangladesh emphasizes on increasing relations with China
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that China is committed to becoming a major partner in Bangladesh’s infrastructure and economic development. He expressed hope that Hasina’s visit will enhance strategic relations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning has said that China is working with Bangladesh to deepen mutual trust, enhance Belt and Road cooperation and improve bilateral relations. A loan agreement between the two countries may also be discussed during Hasina’s visit. There is speculation that Bangladesh may seek a new loan to increase its dwindling foreign reserves but the terms and conditions have not yet been agreed upon.
Regarding the Teesta river project, Foreign Minister Mahmud assured that India’s concerns will be considered if China raises the issue. He stressed that India has proposed joint river management and plans to send a technical team to cooperate with the Bangladesh team. China has also proposed participation but the discussions will take into account Bangladesh’s shared interests with India. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen has also said that Beijing will respect Bangladesh’s decision in this matter, which may ease India’s concerns.
Bangladesh will not join China’s global development initiative
At this point, Bangladesh is unlikely to join China’s Global Development Initiative. The future direction of Bangladesh-China relations will be judged by the outcome of Prime Minister Hasina’s meetings with President Xi Jinping and joint statements. Both China and Bangladesh know that India is closely watching Prime Minister Hasina’s visit to China. The Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times has accused Indian politicians and media of questioning China’s intentions and said that the concrete benefits of China’s BRI cooperation with Bangladesh and Pakistan are self-evident.
Bangladesh has had very close relations with India. Bangladesh’s relations with China were not very good in the initial stages. China opposed the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 and on several occasions used the UN Security Council veto to prevent its membership. China recognized Bangladesh as an independent country on 31 August 1975 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujiburahman, but in recent years the relations between the two countries have been improving. After President Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka in 2016, the two countries upgraded their relations to a strategic cooperative partnership.
Analysts believe that Prime Minister Hasina’s frequent visits to India and China are an attempt to balance relations between the two Asian powers. Amid all this, a big question is how determined Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be to oppose any attempt by China that could weaken Bangladesh’s relations with India.