by Xinhua writer Chen Dongshu
DHAKA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's upcoming visit to China on June 24-26 offers Bangladesh an important opportunity to deepen ties with China and pursue steadier development amid global uncertainty and volatility, a Bangladeshi expert has said.
Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, director of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance at North South University in Bangladesh, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the government has been in power for only a few months, while instability in the Middle East has affected energy-importing countries like Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is now seeking stronger partnerships with friendly and neighboring countries to attract investment, expand development cooperation and strengthen energy cooperation, Haque said, adding that China has become "one of the most important countries for Bangladesh" in the current context.
Haque said Bangladesh expects closer cooperation with China in investment, trade, business, energy and other areas.
"People are eagerly looking forward to a very productive outcome from this visit," he said, noting that newspaper reports and media discussions in Bangladesh have shown strong public attention to the visit.
Bangladesh joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016 and has been an active participant, Haque said, adding that Bangladesh-China economic cooperation is expected to gain new momentum after the visit.
Haque said Bangladesh-China relations provide "an ideal kind of relationship" among Global South countries, and Bangladesh hopes the relationship will reach a new height after the visit.
He said energy cooperation is one area Bangladesh is seriously looking into, adding that Bangladesh, China, Myanmar and other neighboring countries could explore more cooperation in this field.
"The visit is happening at a time when the Global South and the whole world are going through uncertainty and volatility," Haque said.
From that perspective, the visit is a great opportunity for Bangladesh to ensure that Bangladesh-China relations help both sides become "more safe and secured" in their development strategies, he added. ■
