Mohammad Yunus Meets Xi Jinping: Key Bangladesh Issues Take Center Stage

Bangladesh made this appeal to China: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus met here on Friday, state media reported. Yunus, who is on a four-day visit to China, arrived in Hainan on Wednesday and attended the country's 'Boao Forum for Asia' annual conference. He arrived in Beijing on Thursday and was welcomed at the airport by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

Support sought from China for development projects

Yunus urged China to reduce interest rates on Chinese loans and waive commitment fees on Chinese-financed projects ahead of his meeting with Xi. According to various Bangladesh media reports, Yunus sought Chinese support for development projects in a meeting with China's Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference.

He also demanded reduction of interest rates on Chinese loans to Bangladesh from 3 per cent to 1-2 per cent and waiver of commitment fees on Chinese-financed projects in Bangladesh.

China is Bangladesh's fourth largest lender

China is Bangladesh's fourth-largest lender after Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, lending it a total of $7.5 billion since 1975, Bangladesh newspaper Daily Star reported. In his meeting with Ding, Yunus sought Beijing's help in relocating Chinese manufacturing industries to his country, including textiles, electric vehicles, light machinery, high-tech electronics, chip manufacturing and solar panel industries.

Yunus also met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. Overchuk expressed interest in exporting more wheat and fertilizer to Bangladesh. "Russia would like to export more wheat and fertilizer to Bangladesh," he said. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the operation of the Russian-funded Rooppur nuclear power plant.

Advice sought to restore democratic system smoothly

Yunus also met former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and sought his support and advice in smoothly restoring democracy in Bangladesh. Moon is the chairman of the Boao Forum. The Daily Star quoted Yunus as saying, "We want to start afresh. We need your support and advice. We have a great opportunity now."

China has expressed its desire to strengthen ties with Dhaka amid Bangladesh's changing landscape. "President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to your (Yunus') visit," the Chinese vice premier was quoted as saying by Bangladesh's state-run news agency BSS. The Chinese vice premier told Yunus that he hoped the South Asian nation would prosper under his interim administration. Ding said Beijing will give full support to the Bangladesh government in terms of investment, trade and cultural ties to mark 50 years of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.