Photo: TDM
After the Dhaka-Beijing Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting, the bilateral relations between the two countries are being analysed. As the meeting is being held ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, diplomats are showing interest in Bangladesh-China relations.
Besides Rohingya repatriation, the FOC focused on regional connectivity and the expansion of trade and investment. The FOC meeting was held on May 28 in Dhaka, where Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen led the Dhaka side, and Vice Foreign Minister of China Sun Weidong represented Beijing's counterpart.
The two sides agreed to resolve the Rohingya crisis. The Chinese minister emphasised Rohingya repatriation as soon as possible. After the meeting, the Vice Foreign Minister of China met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, where he lauded her for playing a strong role in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
Diplomatic sources said that Bangladesh is going through a lot of problems, especially in politics and the economy. At that time, the Dhaka-Beijing meeting was highly important. A high official of the foreign ministry said that the two countries' delegations discussed the dollar crisis in the meeting. The meeting also focused on how Dhaka can obtain more import facilities from Beijing while avoiding the US dollar.
Addressing Rohingya repatriation was another significant issue at the meeting. China has been involved in the negotiation process since the very beginning. They want to start the process at least. If it starts, China will gain a positive image in international politics.
After the FOC, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said to the media, "China is our development partner, and we want to strengthen this partnership in the near future. In the Rohingya repatriation process, Beijing is playing a strong role."
He also said during the FOC that the two countries focused on duty-free and quota-free access to 98% of Bangladeshi products to China. Beijing committed to ensuring the optimum benefit from this arrangement.
He referred to the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping and hoped that Bangladesh would reap the maximum benefits from this grand scheme.
Munshi Foyez Ahmed, the former ambassador of China, told The Daily Messenger that China played an outstanding role in reconnecting Saudi-Iran relations, which had a positive impact on international politics.
Dhaka-Beijing has so much engagement in the trade and investment sector, so the two countries have many reasons to hold such meetings regularly, he said.
TDM/SD
