Why did China's foreign minister come to Dhaka on his way to Africa?-News Focus bd
China's new foreign minister Chin Gang made a stopover at Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh after midnight on Monday. It is known that he had to stop the flight due to taking fuel while traveling to Africa.
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| China's new foreign minister Chin Gang made a stopover at Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh after midnight on Monday |
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen also held a one-hour meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister during the Monday night stopover. However, it was also reported that it was not an official visit.
China's foreign minister made a stopover in Bangladesh at a time when there are various reports in the domestic and international media about the conflict between Russia and the United States embassy over various issues in Bangladesh.
The first destination is Africa
The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh said in an official press conference on Monday that the country's Foreign Minister Chin Gang is going on his first state visit to Africa after taking office to improve relations between China and Africa.
This is the 33rd consecutive year that Africa is the first destination of China's foreign minister's annual foreign visit. It is said that China's visit to Africa is part of its tradition and shows the importance Beijing attaches to its relationship with Africa.
Bangladesh is important to China
International relations analysts say that the stopover in Dhaka during such an important visit actually means that Bangladesh is becoming more important to China.
Munshi Faiz Ahmed, the former ambassador of Bangladesh to China, said that this suspension of travel sends a different message, although the matter is not the same, a question may be that why he is going to Africa through Bangladesh instead of taking another route.
According to him, it is a manifestation of the fact that there are various issues with Bangladesh that they take seriously. Because China attaches importance to Bangladesh, they have taken advantage of the one-day opportunity.
He thinks that they have taken that opportunity thinking that if they go through this route, they can arrange a meeting with a big official of Bangladesh. This former diplomat sees it positively.
China is its biggest economic partner of Bangladesh. Ahmed said Bangladesh always has various tasks with it and should use all kinds of opportunities to advance them and China has done that.
He also thinks that there is no opportunity to raise questions about this stoppage in relation to any other situation or relationship with any other country.
The strategic importance of the standoff
Dhaka University International Relations Department teacher Dr. Lailufar Yasmin said as it was said in the media a few days ago that Bangladesh is a place of the cold war between Russia and the United States, and the geopolitical importance of Bangladesh is very high for China. Which cannot be used properly in Bangladesh.
The country has repeatedly expressed the importance of China to Bangladesh in different ways. "This is understood through various visits and relationships," he said.
Dr. Yasmin said Bangladesh is trying to give importance to the places where it is needed. In his words, China is paying attention to Bangladesh's needs.
That is why he thinks that this halt has a strategic importance and this message is being signaled not only to Bangladesh but also to the rest of the world.
"We want to convince the rest of the world that Bangladesh is important to China," he said.
What was discussed in the meeting
After the meeting at the airport, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Momen told reporters that China has given about 8.2 million Covid vaccines to Bangladesh. For which they are thanked.
Bangladesh exports goods worth about 800 million dollars to China. And 13 billion dollars worth of goods is imported from China.
It is a fortnight mentioned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Momen Gangke said, "You said that you will provide duty-free, quota-free access (duty and quota-free) to 98% of the products. It was announced but not gazetted so our traders are not getting that access.” Mr. regarding the launch of this facility. The gang is requested.
After the meeting at the airport, Mr. briefed the journalists of Dhaka about this meeting. Momen.
Mentioning that China is helping Bangladesh with various projects, the minister said, thanks to them, they are also doing Padma Setu and its railway line.
Mr. about support to China. Momen said Bangladesh believes in a one-China policy. This is the basic principle of Bangladesh. Bangladesh maintains a balanced foreign policy. So we all have to go along.
Mentioning that Bangladesh will support China, the foreign minister said, "We will support you from time to time."During the visit of President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh in the year 2016, there was also a discussion about the implementation of several financial support agreements, said Mr. Momen.
Mr. Momen said that the Chinese Foreign Minister has invited them to visit China. In reply, the minister said, "We have told him that you come regularly and not suddenly for a short time and then we will discuss our multiple issues."
However, this is not the first time that a foreign minister or president has stopped at Bangladesh airport.
Earlier in January 2017, former Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a one-hour layover at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka during his visit to Africa.
Besides, in February 2016, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stopped at Dhaka airport while going to Japan. At that time he was invited to visit Bangladesh.
Wikipedia: China
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