Hasina's Beijing Visit Levels Up Ties With China As Leaders Pledge To Boost Belt & Road Project In Bangladesh
Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina's visit to China has elevated the nations' bilateral ties to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership".
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Beijing on Wednesday has seemingly bolstered her nation's ties with China. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's visit comes amid regional tensions over territorial disputes and resources. The two nations decided to elevate the bilateral ties to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership". Earlier, the two nations had committed to "strategic partnership".
PM Hasina's visit came after an invitation by Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang.
Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference., and PM Hasina released a joint statement after holding discussions on a variety of matters concerning bilateral relations and international & regional issues of mutual interest. They said they had reached "extensive consensus" on the matters.
Hasina Takes Dhaka-Beijing Ties To Next Stage
Bangladesh and China have decided to celebrate 50 years of their diplomatic ties in 2025 and take Dhaka-Beijing "relationship to another new height". Both PM Hasina and Wang said they remain committed to the 'Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence' — mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
They said they would strive to foster greater synergy between the development strategies of the two countries, advance the Belt and Road cooperation, and elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. China's Belt and Road initiative in Bangladesh has received around $31 billion in investment so far since 2005, as per the American Enterprise Institute.
In her meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hasina elevated the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The two nations had decided to elevate their relationship to 'strategic partnership' in 2016 when Bangladesh formally joined the B&R project during Xi Jinping's visit to Dhaka.
Although specifics were not provided, this status often implies strengthened economic ties, primarily supported by Chinese policy banks. While 'strategic cooperation' often involves achieving short-term mutual goals in fewer projects, "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" involves long-term alliance and a larger number of projects with mutual interests.
Geopolitically, Bangladesh holds a crucial position between Myanmar, a traditional ally of China, now in turmoil, and India.
On Wednesday, Hasina also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and witnessed the signing of 28 bilateral agreements, mainly focused on trade and investment. She returned to Dhaka on Thursday after her three-day visit to China.
Hasina's Balancing Act
Despite maintaining development partnerships with the United States and India, Bangladesh is increasingly aligning with China, which is heavily involved in the country's major infrastructure projects. Hasina seeks to bolster this relationship to attract Chinese investment, aiming to address economic challenges, including a significant debt load. China's contributions to Bangladesh include military equipment like tanks and missile launchers, as well as investments in seaports, railways, power plants, and bridges, reported news agency AFP. Nonetheless, the US remains Bangladesh’s largest source of foreign direct investment.
Hasina’s visit to China follows a recent trip to India, indicating her strategy to balance relations with both neighbours amid a growing US interest in the Indo-Pacific region.
While the US and European nations urged Hasina's government to ensure free and fair elections in January amid allegations of poll rigging, China openly sided with Hasina's administration. China has also expressed interest in assisting Bangladesh's economy as it grapples with decreasing foreign reserves.
According to Bangladeshi news website The Daily Star, Hasina is likely to have sought a fresh loan of $20 billion from China during her visit.
The visit comes amid regional concerns, including China's border tensions with India, its military expansion in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, conflicts in Myanmar, and Beijing’s control over Himalayan water resources, which impacts agriculture in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries.
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