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Xi Jinping Reaffirms China’s Commitment to Aid Bangladesh
Chinese President Xi Jinping has reiterated his country’s unwavering commitment to stand by Bangladesh, offering support across various realms, including facilitating Bangladesh’s entrance into BRICS and assisting in finding a lasting resolution to the Rohingya crisis.
During bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, President Xi conveyed his steadfast support to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen quoted Xi as expressing his readiness to back Bangladesh’s membership in BRICS, underscoring the potential for collaboration.
Furthermore, President Xi emphasized the importance of ensuring a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis. He reassured that China is dedicated to assisting Bangladesh in resolving this humanitarian challenge, acknowledging the imperative of regional stability.
Following their meeting at the Hilton Sandton Hotel, Foreign Minister Momen stated that President Xi proposed a tripartite engagement involving China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar to address the Rohingya issue. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized her government’s intent to repatriate the displaced Rohingyas to their homeland, highlighting concerns about their involvement in illicit activities, such as drug and arms trading, which pose a threat to regional peace.
In response, President Xi pledged continuous support in resolving the Rohingya crisis and expressed China’s eagerness to contribute to Bangladesh’s energy, renewable energy, and infrastructure development. He also extended a commitment to aid Bangladesh in realizing its vision of becoming a prosperous and developed “Sonar Bangla.”
President Xi affirmed, “China will assist you in materializing your dream of building a developed and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ as swiftly as possible.”
Notably, Bangladesh sought President Xi’s assistance in expediting the implementation of Chinese-funded projects that are facing financial obstacles. President Xi assured a thorough review of the situation.
Addressing the trade imbalance between Bangladesh and China, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need to narrow the gap. She highlighted the substantial trade deficit, with Bangladesh importing Chinese goods worth about 20 billion US dollars annually, while China’s imports from Bangladesh total only 700 million US dollars. President Xi acknowledged the concern and expressed willingness to initiate measures to rectify this trade disparity.
President Xi underscored that China has already granted duty-free and quota-free access to 98 percent of Bangladeshi products in the Chinese market. He asserted that by fostering Chinese investments in Bangladesh, the trade gap can be mitigated.
Discussions also centered on the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized its significance, and President Xi assured proactive steps to expedite its signing.
During the bilateral meeting, Bangladesh expressed interest in exporting fresh fruits, vegetables, cattle, poultry feeds, and other goods to China. President Xi committed to considering this matter attentively.
In a reciprocal gesture, President Xi invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China, while also extending an invitation for her to witness the opening of the Padma Rail Bridge in Bangladesh in October. Both leaders agreed to coordinate the details of the visits.
As Bangladesh participates in the BRICS summit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to deliver a speech on behalf of Bangladesh as a member of the “New Development Bank of BRICS.”
The bilateral engagement between Bangladesh and China underscores the strong ties and mutual interests that guide their collaborative efforts.
Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market (BICM) has organized an investment education program titled “Essentials of Capital Market Investment for Women Entrepreneurs.” This initiative is specifically aimed at female investors and entrepreneurs.
The program took place on Tuesday, September 12th, at BICM’s multipurpose hall. Over a hundred female members from “Women and E-commerce (WE),” an organization comprising numerous women entrepreneurs, participated in this training program.
The chief guest at the event was Dr. Mahmuda Akter, the Executive President of the Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market (BICM). Among the notable attendees were Nasima Akter Nisha, the President and Founder of Women and E-commerce (WE), as well as Irene Parveen, the Executive Director of WE. The executive committee director, Salma Parveen, and Rakiba Parveen, members of BICM’s Women Entrepreneurs and Development Committee, were also present. Additionally, the event was graced by Kashfiya Sharmin, Assistant Professor and Assistant Coordinator of the committee, Dr. Tamanna Islam, Assistant Professor and committee member, S. M. Kalbin Chalima, Lecturer, Faima Akter, Lecturer, and Gaurab Roy, Lecturer, all from BICM.
Addressing the gathering, Professor Dr. Mahmuda Akter highlighted that the Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market (BICM) has been consistently providing training on various relevant subjects in the financial/stock market. As part of this commitment, the institute has organized this training program specifically for women investors. Dr. Mahmuda Akter emphasized the importance of women being well-informed and cautious with their savings when investing in the capital market. She underscored BICM’s dedication to equipping women with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed and secure investments in the capital market.
Irene Parveen, the Executive Director of Women and E-commerce (WE), stated that WE members are actively seeking education not only in e-commerce but also in investment through the Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market (BICM). The aim is to equip WE members with the skills and knowledge required to engage in investments in the capital market alongside their e-commerce ventures.
It’s noteworthy that BICM has been conducting regular “Free Investors’ Education Programs” with the objective of enhancing investment awareness among ordinary investors in the Capital Market. In addition, the institute organizes certificate training programs on various contemporary topics for capital market professionals.
The bilateral meeting between Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, and French President Emmanuel Macron concluded this morning (11 September), with a focus on diversifying their existing relationship. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) following a one-on-one discussion between the two leaders.
President Macron was warmly received by Prime Minister Hasina at the PMO’s tiger gate upon his arrival at 10:20 am, with a bouquet of flowers. Before the bilateral meeting, both leaders participated in a photo session. Several bilateral agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed in the presence of the two leaders, who will also hold a joint press briefing.
Before departing from the PMO, Macron will sign the visitor’s book. Earlier in the day, he paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by laying a wreath at Bangabandhu’s portrait and visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32.
President Macron’s visit to Bangladesh, at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, aims to solidify ongoing projects and further enhance economic relations between the two nations. This marks Macron’s first visit to Bangladesh, with the last visit by a French president occurring in 1990 when President Mitterrand visited.
Since the early 1990s, the bilateral trade relationship between Bangladesh and France has grown significantly, with total trade rising from €210 million to €4.9 billion today, making France the 5th largest country for Bangladesh’s exports. French companies are now active in various sectors such as engineering, energy, aerospace, and water resources. Both Bangladesh and France hope that President Macron’s visit will elevate their friendly relations to new heights.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited France in November 2021 at the invitation of President Macron. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has indicated that discussions during Macron’s visit will include strategies to boost trade and investment, addressing climate change, and regulating migration. Climate change and the Rohingya crisis will also be key topics of discussion during their meeting.
Macron’s visit to Bangladesh followed his participation in the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded the G20 summit on Sunday (10 September), where divisions over the Ukraine conflict and climate change took center stage, granting him a moment in the diplomatic spotlight.
The G20 leaders have been deeply divided over the Ukraine war since Russia’s invasion last year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin notably absent from the summit to avoid political scrutiny. Finding common ground has been a persistent challenge, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict.
In a bid to mitigate a diplomatic embarrassment, India, as the host, pushed for a joint statement on Saturday that condemned the use of force for territorial gain but refrained from direct criticism of Russia. The move was met with mixed reactions, with Kyiv stating that the G20 had “nothing to be proud of,” while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, standing in for Putin, claimed a diplomatic victory by stating that the text didn’t mention Russia.
On Sunday, Modi officially closed the summit by passing a ceremonial gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will assume the bloc’s presidency in December. Lula emphasized the importance of not letting geopolitical issues overshadow the G20’s discussions and stressed the need for peace and cooperation.
Despite the urgent climate crisis, G20 leaders failed to reach an agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, instead endorsing a target to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and committing to a “phasedown” of coal in line with national circumstances.
Modi, who sees the summit as India’s diplomatic maturation and seeks a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, celebrated the African Union’s accession to the G20, transforming it into a more inclusive “people’s G20.” He also proposed another G20 leaders’ meeting in November via video link, opening the door for Putin and China’s Xi Jinping to participate.
Lula stated that Putin would be welcome to attend next year’s event in Rio de Janeiro, even though Brazil is a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest on war crimes charges.
On the summit’s sidelines, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held face-to-face talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, marking a significant step in mending a decade-long rift between their countries.
World leaders paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi, India’s revered independence hero, by visiting the site of his cremation. Many leaders, including Modi, walked barefoot in the rain-dampened area, while others wore slippers as a mark of respect. They observed a moment of silence and laid wreaths at the marble plinth that honors Gandhi’s memory.
