DHAKA:
Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus is set to visit Beijing this month on a diplomatic goodwill mission as his caretaker government seeks to expand international alliances amid strained ties with neighboring India.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner assumed leadership in Bangladesh last August following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after a student-led uprising.
Hasina’s administration had enjoyed strong support from India, and her departure significantly impacted relations between the two countries. In response, Yunus’s interim government has been working to strengthen its partnership with China, a key regional competitor to New Delhi.
“Bangladesh is looking to enhance bilateral ties with China,” Yunus’s media secretary, Shafiqul Alam, told reporters on Sunday while announcing details of the upcoming visit.
During his stay from March 26 to 29, Yunus is expected to engage in discussions on various matters of mutual interest and hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
