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Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged deeper cooperation with Bangladeshi President Muhammad Yunus, as Dhaka looks to strengthen ties with Beijing amid strained relations with India.
The meeting on Friday marked Yunus’s first state visit since taking office last August following the ouster of ex-premier Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after a student-led uprising. Hasina’s close ties with New Delhi had defined Bangladesh’s foreign policy for years, but her removal has sent cross-border relations into turmoil.
Xi assured Yunus that China remains a “good neighbor, good friend, and good partner” to Bangladesh, emphasizing mutual support on core interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Beijing also committed to expanding cooperation in infrastructure, digital technology, environmental sectors, and water management, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Yunus’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam hailed the meeting as a “great success”, highlighting Xi’s pledge to boost Chinese investment in Bangladesh. “We are optimistic about significant Chinese investment and hope this marks a new era in Sino-Bangladeshi relations,” Alam said.
Dhaka has framed Yunus’s China visit as a strategic message amid ongoing tensions with India. His administration has also sought a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an upcoming regional summit, though New Delhi has yet to respond.
During the visit, Bangladesh and China are expected to sign agreements on economic assistance, cultural exchanges, and media cooperation. Discussions also include the fate of Rohingya refugees, with Beijing’s past role as a mediator between Bangladesh and Myanmar seen as a key factor in potential repatriation efforts.
Meanwhile, diplomatic friction with India has led to the near-total suspension of Bangladeshi medical tourism, a sector that previously saw thousands seeking treatment across the border. Talks in Beijing reportedly touched on China’s proposal to build a “Friendship Hospital” in Bangladesh as an alternative.
Yunus’s caretaker government faces the challenge of implementing democratic reforms ahead of elections in mid-2026 while attempting to extradite Hasina from India to face crimes against humanity charges a request that New Delhi has yet to entertain.
