Dhaka has dispatched its top diplomat to Beijing to strengthen the political relationship between the two countries.
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque has left for China to have a political dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Vice Minister Kong Xuanyou on Thursday.
“The meeting is important as it will focus on infusing more dynamism in the relationship in the coming days,” said a government official.
A momentum was created after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 and both the countries want to take it to new plain by engaging more in the fields of development, trade and investment, he said.
China, the second-biggest economy and the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh, is our strategic partner and we want more economic engagement, he said.
With a huge cash surplus, China is looking for investment destination and Bangladesh can be a lucrative country for them as they can relocate many of their industries here, he added.
Beijing also has geo-politics interest in Dhaka as it needs partners in its backyard, South Asia, said another official.
“It is no secret that big powers tend to wield hegemony power and Beijing is not an exception,” he said.
South China Sea or Tibet or Uighar Muslims – all these are global topics and it is no surprise that Beijing wants to have more friends than foes to support it, he added.
Dhaka’s balanced position of peaceful solution of the South China Sea has been conveyed to Beijing and it is appreciated by the country.
Rohingya issue
Beijing is engaged with the issue from the beginning and at least three times Bangladesh and Chinese foreign ministers had meetings on the crisis.
“We will explain our position and will seek Chinese support to resolve the crisis,” said another official.
It is true Beijing categorically said that it supports Rohingya repatriation, but it is not as much supportive as Dhaka expects, he said.
“China has taken its position based on its national interest and we hope they will engage more to influence Myanmar to take back all the distressed people,” he added.
Belt and Road Initiative
Bangladesh has already joined the BRI initiative and it wants more projects under that is helpful for the country.
“We formally joined the initiative in 2016 and has also become a member of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which bankrolled couple of projects in the country,” said another official.
The issue will be discussed in the meeting between the two foreign secretaries, he added.