Agencies DHAKA

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, that Beijing would consider requests to lower interest rates on Chinese loans to Dhaka, Yunus’ press chief said on Friday. Yunus, on a four-day visit to China, attended the Boao Forum on Wednesday and met Xi in Beijing on Thursday. On  his arrival at the airport in Beijing, Yunus was received by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. This  is Yunus’s first  bilateral state visit to China since assuming office last year. 

Xi pledged to boost Chinese investment and relocate manufacturing to Bangladesh. Yunus' Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said in a Facebook post, describing the talks as "comprehensive, fruitful, and constructive". He said China would consider water resource management cooperation.

The sides said in a joint press release they had underscored the importance of starting negotiations on a China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement soon, and officially starting negotiations on optimizing a China-Bangladesh Investment Agreement. Bangladesh reaffirmed its "One-China" policy, recognising Taiwan as part of Chinese territory.

The nations signed an economic cooperation agreement and eight memoranda, mainly on cultural exchanges. Xi expressed China's readiness to collaborate on the Belt and Road Initiative, digital, green, and maritime economies, infrastructure, and cultural exchanges. China is Bangladesh's largest trading partner, with $25 billion in annual trade. However, Bangladesh's exports to China are limited to $1 billion. Analysts note Bangladesh's strengthening ties with China and strained relations with India, potentially reshaping South Asia's geopolitics.