Dr. Yunus Opted for India Visit Before China, But Got No Response

International Desk

Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has departed Dhaka for a four-day state visit to China. However, before this trip, Dr. Yunus expressed a desire to visit India, which reportedly did not respond positively to the request.

Indian newspaper *The Hindu*, citing Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, reported on Wednesday that Dr. Yunus intended to visit India before heading to China but received no favorable response from New Delhi.

“Dr. Yunus had hoped for a visit to India before his China trip,” Shafiqul Alam stated. “We expressed our interest in December last year and formally requested a bilateral visit. Unfortunately, India did not respond positively to this request.”

Dr. Yunus is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit and promote Bangladesh as a destination for Chinese investments, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

According to *The Hindu*, Dr. Yunus’s China visit marks the second time in four months that a South Asian leader is hosted by Beijing, following Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit in December 2024.

Dr. Yunus’s schedule includes participation in the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on April 3-4, where another meeting request with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been made.

The *South China Morning Post* reported that securing Chinese investments remains a key priority for Dr. Yunus during this visit. Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and China reached $24 billion last year, with $22.88 billion comprising Chinese exports. Since joining Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2016, Bangladesh has been a significant recipient of Chinese investments under the global connectivity program.

Chinese state-owned enterprises are involved in major BRI projects in Bangladesh, such as the Padma Bridge Rail Link and the Karnaphuli Tunnel. Dhaka is currently seeking additional Chinese loans to expand the Mongla Port, the country’s second-largest seaport. However, political instability and $5 billion in outstanding debt have raised concerns over future investments.

Anu Anwar, a non-resident fellow at Harvard University’s Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, remarked that Dr. Yunus would aim to reassure Beijing about the security of its economic interests in Bangladesh despite domestic uncertainties.

Lin Minwang, Deputy Director of Fudan University’s Center for South Asian Studies, speculated that Dr. Yunus might push for the implementation of agreements signed during Sheikh Hasina’s administration. These included over 20 cooperation deals, with Beijing pledging 1 billion yuan ($140 million) in economic aid. Many of these agreements remain stalled.

“Now is the time to restart implementing these agreements,” Lin commented.

Beijing has bolstered its ties with Dhaka following the fall of the Hasina administration. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen has engaged with various political and military leaders in Bangladesh, signaling strengthened relations.

Recent developments include a Bangladeshi medical delegation’s visit to Kunming, China, as the country seeks alternatives for healthcare services after India restricted access for Bangladeshi patients.

Dhaka University professor of international relations Lailufar Yasmin indicated that the Teesta River management could also be discussed during Dr. Yunus’s visit to China.