Bangladesh's Yunus Meets Xi, Strengthens China Ties

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has embarked on a significant diplomatic visit to China, marking his first bilateral trip since taking office in August 2024. During the visit, Yunus met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders discussed elevating bilateral relations and exploring new areas of cooperation, including economic, cultural, and infrastructural collaborations. President Xi offered continued support for Bangladesh's development goals and proposed starting negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement. Yunus emphasized Bangladesh's admiration for China's poverty reduction achievements and expressed interest in learning from China's development experiences. The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic ties and is expected to result in several agreements on economic, cultural, and technical cooperation. This visit also highlights Bangladesh's strategic pivot towards China amidst strained relations with neighboring India.