Foreign Minister Dr. Hassan Mahmud and his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis vowed to forge bilateral  cooperation in different areas including migration and mobility, trade and investment, shipping, manpower and recruitment, development of renewable & alternation energy infrastructure during a bilateral meeting held Tuesday (April 16) morning in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens on the sidelines of the 9th Our Ocean Conference.   They also expressed satisfaction at the continuous cooperation and excellent bilateral relations between the two nations. The Greek Foreign Minister also cordially accepted the invitation of Bangladesh Foreign Minister to visit Dhaka and mentioned that the visit can be a good option to inaugurate the Greek Diplomatic Mission there. Earlier in the discussion, he assured the Foreign Minister that opening a Diplomatic Mission in Dhaka is a priority for the Greek government.  Bangladesh Foreign Minister requested the Greek Foreign Minister to encourage Greek businesses to import state of the art quality Bangladeshi items and urged him to facilitate the exports from Bangladesh. Greek Foreign Minister agreed on the need to enhance bilateral trade where there remains huge untapped potentials and stressed on the need to find a suitable strategy to help grow bilateral trade and investment.  Hassan Mahmud thanked the Greek government for legalizing more than 10,000 Bangladeshi nationals who were living in Greece under the MOU on Migration and Mobility and called for smooth implementation of the second part of the MOU. The Greek Foreign Minister stated that Greece prefers recruiting Bangladeshi professionals for their hard work and law abiding nature. Greece will recruit a good number of Bangladeshi workers for its agriculture, tourism and hospitality and construction sector in the coming days. Besides two Ministers also agreed that meaningful cooperation between the two countries in the shipping sector can create a win-win situation as they complement each other and also agreed  on  building the legal framework for fruitful cooperation in the shipping sector. Deputy Prime Minister of Spain meets Foreign Minister Hasan Later on Tuesday Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud had a fruitful discussion on issues of bilateral importance and mutual interest with Spanish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenges Maria Jesus Montero on the sidelines of 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens. Both sides agreed to establish cooperation in the climate change, water management , food and agriculture cooperation, green energy, environmental sectors and issues of mutual interest.  

Tuvalu’s new government released a statement of priorities Wednesday, reiterating the Pacific island nation’s intent to maintain its "long-term and lasting special relationship" with Taiwan, while vowing to review a security pact that the previous administration signed with Australia in November. The announcement comes after some lawmakers hinted before last month’s parliamentary election that the new Tuvalu government might review the country’s ties with Taiwan. That kicked off weeks of speculation that the Pacific island nation might switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing. The new government "intends to reassess options that would strengthen and lift [its relationship with Taiwan] to a more durable, lasting and mutually beneficial relationship," the new government under Prime Minister Feleti Teo said in the statement shared by Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation Minister Simon Kofe on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Some analysts told VOA that Wednesday’s statement can be viewed as Tuvalu’s effort to push back against Beijing’s influence campaign. "This is a strong sign of Tuvalu's intent to thwart what I must assume are strong offers from Beijing," Timothy Rich, a professor of political science at Western Kentucky University, said in a written response. Other observers say the announcement, which is a welcome message to the United States and its democratic allies, can shore up Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic footprint in the Pacific region while serving as a temporary setback for China. "I see this development as a setback for Beijing as they were hoping to lure Tuvalu into their camp but China [still] has other mechanisms through which they can increase their influence [in the Pacific region,]" Parker Novak, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub told VOA by phone. Since Tuvalu’s new government highlights climate change and connectivity as important areas for development, some experts say Taiwan needs to consider how it can constructively contribute to Tuvalu’s priorities. "As China looks to woo countries that have ties with Taiwan onto its side, the Tuvalu government needs to demonstrate to the Tuvalu community that its relationship with Taiwan is delivering something for the people while it passes the potential benefits of a relationship with China," Mihai Sora, a research fellow in the Pacific Islands program at Lowy Institute in Australia, in a phone interview. He said Taiwan needs to consider how it can elevate its relationship with Tuvalu. "The ball is in Taiwan’s court to elevate the relationship with Tuvalu [as] the language [in the statement] indicates that Tuvalu is interested in upgrading its relationship with Taiwan and getting more out of it," Sora added. In response to the new Tuvalu government’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic ties, Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Wednesday that it treasures the "special relationship" with Tuvalu and hopes to continue to work together with the Pacific island nation. While Taiwan and Tuvalu reaffirmed their bilateral relationship, Beijing emphasized that "upholding the One China principle," which designates Taiwan as a part of China, is "where global opinion trends." "A handful of countries who still have so-called ‘diplomatic ties’ with the Taiwan region should choose to stand on the right side of history and make the right decision that truly serves their fundamental and long-term interests," Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press conference on Monday. Three Pacific island nations have switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China since 2019. Beijing has also increased efforts to deepen relations with regional countries, signing security deals with countries such as the Solomon Islands while promising a large amount of aid. To counter Beijing’s influence campaign, the United States and its allies have stepped up engagement with Pacific island nations, signing new agreements to deepen cooperation and increase support for regional countries. However, some of the efforts have been met with caution or stalled by domestic politics. In the Wednesday statement of priorities, the new Tuvalu government said while it supports the broad principles and objectives of the security and migration pact that the previous administration signed with Australia in November, it acknowledges "the absence of transparency and consultations" in informing the general public about the deal. The government vowed to address the "process issues." While analysts say the deal between Tuvalu and Australia will not be completely scrapped, the U.S. Congress has been unable to pass new funding packages for several Pacific island nations, forcing leaders from several countries to warn about Beijing’s attempt to seize the opportunity to shift their allegiances. Sora in Australia said the U.S. congressional failure to pass the aid package, the Compacts of Free Association, or COFA, agreement, hurts U.S. credibility as a reliable partner to Pacific island nations. "COFA is a core Pacific interest for the U.S. and if it can’t make that, how could it credibly expand its engagement and presence in the rest of the Pacific?" according to Sora. Rich from Western Kentucky University said failure by the U.S. and its allies to provide economic support to Pacific island nations, who rely heavily on foreign aid for their development, could give China an opportunity to present itself as an alternative. "My concern is that without aid, the Pacific islands have no choice but China, and China could use these relations [to increase its presence in the region,]" he said. Source: VOA News

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday said that the Dhaka-Delhi relations are growing from "strength to strength".  After his meeting with Bangladesh counterpart Dr Hasan Mahmud in Uganda on the sidelines of the NAM summit, he said in X, formally twitter, that he congratulated him on his appointment and wished him all success.   This is the first meeting between the two foreign ministers. Dr Hasan Mahmud will visit India in his first bilateral visit on February 7. Jaishankar wrote he is very glad to meet the new minister and look forward to receiving him in Delhi soon.     While Dr Jaishankar congratulated Dr Hasan Mahmud in his new role as foreign minister, the foreign ministry said that both leaders discussed various issues of mutual interests and ways to carry forward the existing excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.  They also discussed the upcoming visit of Bangladesh's foreign minister to New Delhi, the foreign ministry said.   Dr Hasan Mahmud is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) scheduled on 19-20 January 2024 and the Third South Summit of the G77 and China scheduled on 21-22 January.  Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Muhammad A Muhith, and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Kenya and Uganda among others are accompanying the foreign minister.

The United States has once again raised questions over Bangladesh’s election, this time condemning the violence surrounding the polls. The country has urged all political parties to refrain from violence. Earlier in the statement, the US State Department said that the country will maintain its partnership with Bangladesh on various issues, including trade. BNP chose the path of violence to prevent the election of Bangladesh. Common people lost their lives in the fire set on public buses and trains. The United States once again condemned and expressed concerns over such violence. In a briefing, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller urged all parties to refrain from violence.   He said, “We are now encouraging the Government of Bangladesh to credibly and transparently investigate the reports of violence, to hold perpetrators accountable, and we all urge all parties to reject political violence.”   In response to a question from Begum Khaleda Zia's former assistant press secretary, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari, Miller spoke about election transparency.   He said, “We share the view with other observers that these elections were not free and fair. We regret that not all parties participated.”   While citing ‘other observers’ in his comments, Miller could not name a specific country.   Earlier in a post-election statement, the US said that the country will maintain its partnership with Bangladesh to keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open. The statement also expressed a commitment to deepen commercial relations with Bangladesh.

The rumour mill of Chinese media is working overtime to make unsubstantiated claims about dramatic improvements in relations between China and Bhutan and to spread the impression that a settlement of the boundary dispute between China and Bhutan is round the corner. Reports from Thimphu do not indicate anything to corroborate such sweeping claims of Beijing. Claims to the effect that Bhutan is prepared to establish diplomatic relations with China which again do not find any corroboration from the Bhutanese authorities do indicate, however, that Beijing is mounting immense pressure on Thimphu for the establishment of diplomatic relations; as a first step bring the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan under its sphere of influence. All these sweeping claims have been made in the state-controlled news agency of China Xinhua and the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China Global Times while reporting on the 25th Round of Boundary Talks held between Bhutan and China on October 23 and 24, 2023, in Beijing. The text of the joint statement issued by the two countries and appearing in the websites of the Foreign Ministry of Bhutan and the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China are identical, but do not corroborate all the claims made in the Xinhua and Global Times reports. The Press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 25th Round of Boundary Talks between Bhutan and China on October 23 and 24 in Beijing is brief. It says the Bhutanese delegation was led by Foreign Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Tandi Dorji. “The two sides held in-depth discussions on the boundary negotiations and noted the progress made through a series of Expert Group Meetings since the 24th Round of Boundary Talks in 2016. The two leaders of the delegations commended the Expert Group for the work done and agreed to build on the positive momentum. The two leaders of the delegations signed the Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Responsibilities and Functions of the Joint Technical Team on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary. The JTT was established during the 13th Expert Group Meeting to assist the Expert Group in the implementation of the MoU on the Three-Step Roadmap. The two sides agreed to continue working together to simultaneously push forward the implementation of all the steps of the Three Step Roadmap.” That was all. The postscript that the “discussions were held in a warm and friendly atmosphere in keeping with the ties of friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and China. The two sides also exchanged views on enhancing bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest” was most likely a diplomatic nicety. The release mentions that Tandi Dorji had meetings with Vice President of China Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi but makes no further comment on what was discussed.  According to the Xinhua report, during the meeting Wang Yi told Tandi Dorji that China was ready to conclude boundary negotiations and establish diplomatic relations with Bhutan as soon as possible. According to Wang Yi, China and Bhutan were “linked by mountains and rivers and enjoy a profound traditional friendship” and that the conclusion of boundary negotiations and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries “fully serve the long-term and fundamental interest of Bhutan,” emphasizing that the sides should “complete the important process as soon as possible in legal form.” The Xinhua report also claimed that Tandi Dorji said “Bhutan upholds one-China principle,”that “Bhutan is willing to work with China to strive for an early settlement of the boundary question and advance the political process of establishing diplomatic ties.” According to the report, Dorji said “Bhutan greatly appreciates and supports the China[1]proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.”The Global Times report basically replicated the Xinhua report. A belated report in Bhutanese newspaper Kuensel on October 28 mentioned about a news conference by Tandi Dorji in Beijing where he had said the Bhutan government was optimistic about reaching a conclusion in the boundary negotiations with China at the earliest and establishing diplomatic relations, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering in a recent interview had remained non-committal on the question of establishing diplomatic relations with China, emphasizing on the need to determine “when” and “how.” Going by the recent Indian experience of China occupying by deceit large parts of disputed territories in the Ladakh sector of the India – China boundary, the reported assertion of Wang Yi to Tandi Dorji that “China respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries” should sound like a sick joke. It is not clear either how the conclusion of boundary negotiations and the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries will“fully serve the long-term and fundamental interest of Bhutan;”as claimed by Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi.  China has made sweeping claims on Bhutanese territories; in the north the valleys of Pasamlung and Jakarlung, and in western Bhutan the valleys of Doklam, Dramana, Charithang and Snichulungpa. Most surprisingly, in 2020 China also extended its claim to the Sakteng Sanctuary in eastern Bhutan. In the previous rounds of boundary negotiations between the two countries, there had been no mention of eastern Bhutan. Thimphu had duly lodged a protest with Beijing against the fresh claim on Sakteng Sanctuary. In fact, the origin of the border dispute between China and Bhutan is the intransigence of China in recognizing the traditional dividing line between Tibet and Bhutan after its illegal occupation of Tibet in 1950. Tibet and Bhutan have been neighbours since time immemorial with close historical and cultural ties. China has no locus standi in raising a border dispute between Bhutan and Tibet. The real interest of Beijing in making all these territorial claims in Bhutan is to gain control of strategically important territories in western Bhutan that overlook the vulnerable Siliguri corridor of India. Sakteng Sanctuary in eastern Bhutan is contiguous to the again strategically important Tawang sector. The claim on territories in northern Bhutan is just a red herring. Beijing has always worked against the interest of Thimphu, taking over the control of eight Bhutanese enclaves in Tibet in 1959. These enclaves were originally territories of the kingdom of Ladakh which exercised control over western Tibet. The rulers of Ladakh had gifted these enclaves to Bhutan as the rulers of both the countries were followers of the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.  It is not surprising that boundary negotiations between Bhutan and China have not made much progress ever since it was initiated in 1984. Any careful observer of the sequence of events pertaining to the border talks will not be impressed with the pace of progress. For, while the 25th Round of Boundary Talks between the two countries was held in October 2023, the earlier 24th Round of Boundary Talks, as stated in the joint communiqué, was held in 2016; long seven years ago. The boundary negotiations between China and Bhutan have thus progressed at snail’s pace, if at all. All that the 25th Round of Boundary Talks achieved was to decide on how the Joint Technical Team, which was set up in a meeting of an Expert Group in August 2023, would function and what its responsibilities would be. It was an exercise in determining the modalities, nothing concrete was achieved in the meeting held in Beijing on October 23 and 24. The ‘Three Step Roadmap’ which China wants to thrust on Bhutan involves, first, reaching an agreement on the border through negotiations, then conducting site visits on the ground physically to inspect and assess the border areas; and lastly formally to demarcate the boundary. Analysts say the Joint Technical Team would have a long way to go in reaching an agreement on the border through negotiations before the more difficult process of ground visits can commence.  Verbal assurances from Foreign Minister of Bhutan Tandi Dorji about Thimphu accepting the ‘One China Principle,’ again, is of little value. In the merciless world of diplomatic negotiations, such stands of nations have to be written down in the form of joint protocol. So also about Bhutan establishing full diplomatic relations with China; in a one-on-one meeting with his Chinese counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Bhutan could not have done otherwise.  The claim that the Foreign Minister of Bhutan has greatly appreciated the high sounding global initiatives that Beijing is planning to initiate — on development, security and civilization — does not sound too convincing either. There is no available report of Bhutan attending the Belt and Road Initiative conference held in Beijing on October 17 and 18; less than a week ahead of the visit of Tandi Dorji to the Chinese capital. It seems that Thimphu does not have much confidence in BRI, the pet project of President of China Xi Jinping. Beijing will do well to remember that its joy had been short-lived in 2022 to read an interview of Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering in the Belgian newspaper La Libre that Bhutan would soon demarcate the boundary with China in the Doklam plateau where the viewpoint of Beijing would be accommodated.  Lotay Tshering himself had issued a clarification soon that there was no change in position of Bhutan and that India had an equal stake in the boundary dispute between Bhutan and China in the Doklam plateau.  More, soon after the interview of the Prime Minister of Bhutan in the Belgian newspaper, none other than the King of Bhutan himself had visited New Delhi and had with the Prime Minister of India “discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and of regional and global issues of mutual interest.”Bhutan, thus, continues to be the closest friend of India.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the friendly ties between Bangladesh and France reached a new dimension. After the bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron she said it in her statement in a joint press briefing. Earlier this morning, she had the bilateral talks with the French president at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). After Macron's arrival at the PMO at 10:20 am, she welcome the French president with a flower bouquet at the tiger gate. "The friendly ties that my father, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated in 1972 have reached a new dimension," she said. Sheikh Hasina also said in her statement that "today is a historic day in our bilateral relationship between France and Bangladesh which has been evolving for more than five decades". The PM said, today she had fruitful discussions with President Macron on the entire spectrum bilateral matters in a very cordial setting.  She went on saying that France expressed its reverence and support to Bangladesh's sovereign policy, independence, particularly in the context of the ongoing geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty. "We both hope that this new strategic move between Bangladesh and France will play an effective role in establishing regional and global stability and peace," she said. The cornerstone of this new relationship is based on the constitutional and democratic continuity, development and good governance in Bangladesh over the past one and half decade, she also said. She continued: "The government of France has expressed its satisfaction with the responsible and committed activities of the Government of Bangladesh in protecting the fundamental and human rights of its people." The confidence of the French government in the spectacular and consistent progress of the Bangladesh's economy was greatly appreciated as well, she added.

Welcome to "The Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023". On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, I would like to thank everybody here for your long-term support on China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation. I would also like to express my special gratitude to BCCCI and CEAB for their thoughtful organization of this event. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Belt and Road Initiative. As we all know, Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to join the Belt and Road Initiative. The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh hold this exhibition to vividly demonstrate the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh, build a platform for cooperation between Chinese and Bangladeshi companies, and to present a gift to the upcoming 74th anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. The exhibitors include 15 Chinese companies whose South Asian regional headquarters are in Bangladesh, nearly 20 other large Chinese companies that are deeply operating in the Bangladesh market, and several large Bangladeshi companies and banks. During the exhibition, with the joint organization of BCCCI and CEAB, several seminars such as workshop with government departments,  forum between China and Bangladesh enterprises, job fairs, and business meetings will also be held to ensure the positive outcome of the exhibition. Economic and trade cooperation has always been an important pillar of the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership. Since Bangladesh joined the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more Chinese companies have invested in Bangladesh. Currently, there are more than 670 Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh.  These companies, especially the exhibitors here today, are important driving force for China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation. They promote more Chinese capital, Chinese technology, and Chinese standards to Bangladesh, providing impetus for the upgrading of Bangladesh's industrial structure and long-term economic development.  They build infrastructures such as roads and bridges, laying solid foundation for Bangladesh's economic development. They participate in municipal water affairs, dealing with garbage and sewage, and improving the living standards of Bangladeshi people.  They invested in various power plants to ensure power supply in Bangladesh, and helped Bangladesh become the first country in South Asia with nationwide access to electricity.  They participated in the construction of the Bangladesh network and contributed to the construction of "Smart Bangladesh". They are committed to promoting bilateral trade and make positive contributions to the Bangladesh's import of raw materials sectors and export of finished products sector.  On the journey of Bangladesh's modernization, China will always be a trustworthy neighbor, close friend and cooperative partner of Bangladesh. China will continue to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Bangladesh economic and trade relations. I believe that, under the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Bangladesh relations will surely reach a new height and open a new era of friendly cooperation. 

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said the Johannesburg meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping showcased for one more time to the world the example of relations between developing countries jointly set up by Bangladesh and China. “It was the first face-to-face meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since the latter’s formal visit to China four years ago. We have long been waiting for this meeting. It would definitely tide up new momentum for our bilateral relations,” he told UNB in his first interview since arrival in Dhaka, noting that it is his sacred mission to fully implement the consensus reached by the two leaders to push the “Strategic Partnership of Cooperation” between the two countries to a new level. As briefed by Ambassador Yao, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Xi Jinping spoke highly of the traditional friendship and good relations between Bangladesh and China “based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs”. “It is high on my agenda to facilitate more in-person visits and meetings of this kind in the days to come,” he added. Relations in Challenging Situation Ambassador Yao said China and Bangladesh share significant commonalities in terms of moral values, national dreams and development paths. “Since President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly upgraded our bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation in 2016, we have set a model of friendly ties between developing countries for the world at large,” he said. China now stands as the single largest trade partner and a key development partner of Bangladesh. “Wherever I go in Bangladesh, the local people would always give me thumbs-up for China-Bangladesh friendship,” the ambassador said. At international arenas, China and Bangladesh both stand for peace and development. “We share similar views on hotspot issues like the Ukraine crisis. China’s effort to help resume Saudi-Iran diplomatic relations was also welcomed in Bangladesh,” he said. “China is working with Bangladesh in meeting regional and global challenges, such as the repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State of Myanmar, tackling climate change, upholding the right to development, and supporting the UN peacekeeping efforts,” the envoy added. “Based on equal footing, mutual respect, joint development and common commitment to peace, relations between China and Bangladesh infuse the power of certainty and stability to an increasingly trembling world,” he said. Non-Intervention in Upcoming Election “China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” President Xi said in the Johannesburg meeting, adding that China upholds Bangladesh’s efforts to fend off external interference and maintain domestic unity and stability, so as to ensure development and revitalization. Yao said the upcoming election is an internal affair of Bangladesh, and their policy is very consistent that China never intervenes in any country’s internal affairs. “The future of Bangladesh shall be determined by the Bangladeshi people,” said the ambassador adding “China is full of confidence for the better future of Bangladesh as well as China-Bangladesh relations.” For the time being, over 600 Chinese enterprises are functioning in Bangladesh, and tens of thousands of Chinese citizens are living and working here. According to Ambassador Yao, the Chinese companies proactively undertake social responsibilities on boosting local economy, protecting the environment, providing social services to host communities, help create job opportunities, build capacity for manpower and promote charity. “With their contribution and efforts, the hearts of the two peoples are brought together ever closer,” he said. When asked whether he is concerned about the interests of Chinese companies and citizens in the context of heated political air, Yao replied that the Chinese people are here for friendship and joint development with Bangladeshi people. “Their safety and security should surely be guaranteed, and their lawful interests should be protected,” he opined. Priorities Ahead Bangladesh and China will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025. “It would be a perfect occasion to review achievements in the past and map forward for the future,” the ambassador said. He promised that China would do its part to help Bangladesh to graduate from the LDCs by 2026, and fuel up joint development to achieve respective national dreams which are “well-connected”. “Practical cooperation is the cornerstone of China-Bangladesh relations. While implementing projects agreed during high-level visits back in 2016 and 2019, we will take the initiative with Bangladesh to figure out more under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) on connectivity infrastructure, renewable power section, blue economy, digital empowerment, so on and so forth,” said the Chinese envoy. In terms of trade, he said, local exporters are encouraged to fully leverage China’s 98% zero-tariff treatment for Bangladeshi products and showcase the brand of “Made in Bangladesh” on expositions held in China, such as China International Import Expo, China-South Asia Expo and Canton Fair. The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong should eye on high-end and high-value industries to serve the Smart Bangladesh development strategy as well as the high-quality development paradigm of China, he said. “We’d encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to increase investment in promising fields like new energy, ICT, advanced manufacturing, and agri-product processing,” Ambassador Yao said, adding that he would also push forward the cooperation on disaster management and relief, military exchanges, law enforcement coordination and maritime cooperation during his tenure in Dhaka. “Of course, as the Chinese ambassador, I’d play my role in mediating between Bangladesh and Myanmar to facilitate the early and sustainable repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State,” he underscored. BRI Project “The Belt and Road Initiative has brought about tangible benefit for the Bangladeshi people,” Ambassador Yao said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described BRI a ‘trailblazer’ for Bangladesh’s development.” This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launching of BRI and the 7th anniversary of Bangladesh’s participation in the initiative. “In recent years, we’ve witnessed completion of a good number of projects built under the BRI that have significantly changed the development landscape of Bangladesh, such as the Info-Sarker phase 3 project, the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center, the Payra Thermal Power Plant, the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant, among others,” he said. “Connectivity will be further improved between the Southwestern part and the rest of the country when the Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuri River and the First Section of the Padma Bridge Railway Link open for traffic by the end of this year,” he noted. Asked about the latest status of on-going development projects, he said that projects like Modernization of Telecommunication Network for Digital Connectivity and the Installation of Single Point Mooring with Double Pipeline Project will be completed soon. “The Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant will start its construction, and the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project is also under discussion between authorities of the two sides,” he added. Global Development Initiative The Global Development Initiative (GDI), a twin sister of BRI, is said to be aimed at supporting the timely achievement of all 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by revitalizing global development partnership and promoting stronger, greener and healthier global development. Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward GDI at the United Nations in 2021. It promotes international cooperation in eight priority areas, namely poverty alleviation, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity in the digital-era. “All these are also the focus of Bangladesh in its Vision 2041 perspective plan,” said the ambassador. According to the United Nations, over 100 countries and international organizations have expressed their support to the initiative and 68 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI at the UN. This July, the first high-level meeting of the Global Action Forum for Shared Development was held in Beijing, with more than 800 guests from 158 countries and international organizations attending online and offline. Minister of Planning M.A. Mannan took part in the event on behalf of Bangladesh. “It is hoped that Bangladesh would make good use of China’s aid, preferential loans and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to actively carry out policy dialogue, experience sharing, capacity building and practical cooperation,” said the ambassador. Producing Green Energy Responding to a question, the envoy said China, a key contributor to the Paris Agreement, pledged to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. “By 2035, China will broadly establish eco-friendly ways of work and life, lower carbon emissions after reaching a peak, improve the environment and largely accomplish the goal of building a ‘Beautiful China’,” he added. Bangladesh also faces critical challenges of environmental degradation and climate change. “Fortunately, the country has become well aware of the gravity of these issues, and has taken plausible actions,” the Chinese envoy said, noting that the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP) adopted in 2020 plays a key role in guiding the country’s development paradigm into the track of green transition by 2030. “As Bangladesh and China converge on environmental goals, there heralds significant potentials for the two countries to synergize on green development strategies, thereby building a shared human community in harmony with nature,” said Ambassador Yao. “In fact, we’ve already kicked start cooperation in this regard. When I visited Cox’s Bazar a few months ago, I saw photovoltaic panels of Chinese brand on top of many roofs. A wind farm project is also being built there by Chinese contractors,” he added. Next Generation of Green Traffic It was reported that Bangladesh had its first electric vehicle (EV) charging station installed in Dhaka earlier this month. “I read it from newspaper. But there are only 35 EV registered in Bangladesh for the time being. That is a negligible amount compared to the 170 million population of Bangladesh,” he said. China is a key designer and manufacturer of EV. There are over 16 million EV and mixed-fuel vehicles running on the road of China, and the number is still soaring up. “We would encourage more Chinese EV manufacturers to come to Bangladesh, explore the local market, and meet the demand of Bangladeshi people, thereby helping Bangladesh transit towards the next generation of green traffic,” said the ambassador. People-to-People Exchanges In the interview, Ambassador Yao said people-to-people exchanges lay the foundation for Bangladesh-China friendship. Earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied a touching letter to Alifa Chin, a Bangladeshi teenager born with the help of Chinese navy hospital ship “Peace Ark” and named after China by her father. Expressing his hope that Chin would make best use of her youthful years and study hard to make her dream come true, President Xi encouraged her to give back to her family, contribute to the society, and serve her own country. “President Xi Jinping’s reply letter to Alifa Chin ushers in a new chapter for the intimate relations between the two peoples. From this start, we’d further enhance people-to-people exchanges between us,” said the ambassador. As of now, there are more than 12,000 Bangladeshi students studying in China. Three Confucius Institutes and classrooms are functioning in Bangladesh. The Chinese envoy sees them as “seed and hope” for enhanced mutual understandings. “The local media also play a unique role in influencing public opinion and bridging recognition gaps. It is my sincere hope that prominent media houses like UNB would keep producing objective and fair reports about China and China-Bangladesh cooperation, thereby contribute to the betterment of friendly ties between our two countries and peoples,” he said.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who was finishing up a visit to Beijing, said progress was made in stabilizing relations between the two countries. Tech, trade, Taiwan and other issues have complicated US-China ties. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday that ties between the US and China are "on surer footing" as she concluded a 4-day visit to Beijing. "We believe that the world is big enough for both of our countries to thrive," Yellen said during a media briefing at the US Embassy in Beijing.  "My bilateral meetings — which totaled about 10 hours over two days — served as a step forward in our effort to put the US-China relationship on surer footing," she added.  What was discussed? The objective of Yellen's visit was to deepen ties with China's new economic team and avoid any misunderstandings in the two superpowers' economic rivalry. Yellen said Chinese officials raised concerns about an expected executive order that would restrict outbound investment. She told Chinese officials that any such measure would be narrow in scope and would be enacted in a transparent way, through a rule-making process that would allow public input.   Yellen also said Beijing could raise concerns about US actions, so that Washington could explain, and "possibly in some situations, respond to unintended consequences of our actions if they're not carefully targeted." China's state-run Xinhua news agency said on Saturday that Yellen's meeting with Vice Premier He Lifeng yielded an agreement to "strengthen communication and cooperation on addressing global challenges." Strengthening communication channels Yellen's visit is part of a push by the US to open a dialogue with the Chinese leadership on economic disputes. Last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing and Biden himself could meet with Chinese President Xi Xinping at the upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in San Francisco. But both sides have played down the idea that Yellen's trip alone would lead to a breakthrough. "No one visit will solve our challenges overnight. But I expect that this trip will help build a resilient and productive channel of communication," she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first State visit to the United States has been an instant hit. Note that this is not a Bollywood movie that we are talking about, but a journey that resounds with a new mantra for India-US ties. The India-US joint statement sums up the sentiments and intent of both nations by stating that "Our cooperation will serve the global good as we work through a range of multilateral and regional groupings - particularly the Quad- to contribute toward a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo- Pacific. No corner of human enterprise is untouched by the partnership between our two great countries, which spans the seas to the stars". The grand rhetoric will be translated into action as India will soon join the Artemis Accords, a US-led effort to send humans to the moon again by 2025, with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond. The range of bilateral agreements signed and the likely spin-offs that it will bring to the Indian industry by itself indicates the depth of mutual understanding and strategic salience attached to India by the US. The perspective from Beijing and Islamabad gives us a bird's eye view of the State Visit of Prime Minister Modi. Both China and Pakistan have long opposed an assertive India on the world stage and especially one that is in sync with the United States. For China, the State Visit of Prime Minister Modi to the US was a cruel reminder that it is not only Beijing which can pursue "win-win" cooperation with America. The Prime Minister indirectly hit out at China when he told Congress, "The dark clouds of coercion and confrontation are casting their shadow in the Indo-Pacific." He added, "The stability of the region has become one of the central concerns of our partnership." The joint statement included a warning of rising tensions and destabilizing actions in the East and South China Sea and stressed the importance of international law and freedom of navigation. The US may have well sent a gentle reminder to China when they played Lata Mangeshkar's "Ae mere wattan ke logon", at the State dinner. This is a song that commemorates the Indian Army soldiers who lost their lives during the 1962 India-China border war. Symbolism plays an important part of the new normal in India-US relations! Chinese state media said the US was displaying "wishful thinking" regarding India's potential. They regarded Modi's visit as part of Washington's strategy to prop up India to contain China - exuding a mild 'cautious optimism' - as Beijing believes that the two sides aren't entirely aligned. The winds of change in Indo-US relations are best seen in the Joint Statement wherein both leaders "....strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks." This was certainly not liked by Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the US-Indian Joint Statement was "unwarranted, one-sided, and misleading". The reference to Islamabad in it was "contrary to diplomatic norms," it said. The Dawn (June 24), as did other major English dailies tried to cloak Pakistan's role in fostering militancy and terrorism in India by arguing that, "While Pakistan has had a problem with militancy, the critique would have carried more weight had the Biden administration also brought up India's deplorable treatment of its Muslims, and its long subjugation of Kashmir." The Express Tribune (June 24) alleged that the joint statement showed that "Washington was harping to the tune from India". Most importantly, speaking from the international relations perspective, "India's inking of big-ticket projects... has cemented a decade of neo- World Order in Asia." Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra aptly summed up the outcomes of the visit when he said the area of technology cooperation across the entire ecosystem, tech transfer, tech trade in products and services, tech capacity building, tech co-production and research, constituted a major takeaway from the visit, alluding to the cooperation within the framework of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET) and beyond. Special mention could be made of advancements in defence partnership, space cooperation, and commitment of both nations to harnessing advanced technologies for mutual benefit. The very fact that President Biden accorded a state honour to the Prime Minister indicated the importance the US attaches to the visit. Geo-politically both nations have shown the will and the way to move closer. This bilateral bonhomie is reflected in the manifold sectors in which the US has agreed to link up with India. Defence, semi-conductors and space cooperation are at the forefront of this new cooperative spirit. The agreement to jointly produce jet engines, procurement of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, and establishment of semi-conductor facilities in India demonstrates a substantial leap in technology defence partnerships. Of note is the MoU signed between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to jointly produce GE 414 fighter jet engines, with technology transfer and indigenous manufacturing capabilities. The Tejas Mark II will certainly get a boost. The potential for using the GE 414 for the AMCA also opens up in the future. Additionally, the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force will procure 31 MQ-9B HALE US drones, to strengthen India's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities. To support long- term goals in boosting India's indigenous defence capabilities, the US-based General Atomics will set up a Comprehensive Global MRO facility in India. While US defence industry has shown the way, US political leadership will have to ensure continuity in this sector. The fact is that both India and the US need each other in the new world order. With Russia fighting a lone war in Ukraine, China on its mission to become a world power and others clamouring for a place on the world stage, the US realizes it needs a partner in the Indo-Pacific to whom it can entrust the responsibility of acting as a countervailing force against China. India hesitates to be that force openly. It is therefore important for India to take action in that direction without necessarily bragging about it. India and more importantly, Prime Minister Modi realizes that closer interaction with the US is essential if it is to move away from its dependence on Russia for its weapons and other equipment. There is another facet to the current visit which is geo-politically important for both the US and India, though for different reasons. The US expectation is that India will sooner than later overtly support Ukraine in the conflict. Till this happens, the need to use bilateral leverages with India will continue. At the end of the day, the India-US relationship has benefitted. Both sides are now able to bring together their requirements on a single platform and the multi-layered mechanisms put in place to achieve the goals set by the Joint Statement will probably outlast the elections next year, both in India and the US. If this indeed happens, then President Biden and Prime Minister Modi would have helped to unequivocally shape the future of India-US ties!