Chinese President Xi Jinping is most likely to make a state visit to Bangladesh from October 15-16, which is considered by Dhaka as very important because it is expected that a number of agreements worth billions of dollars would be signed during this visit.
For Bangladesh, the visit of the Chinese Head of the State to Dhaka after a very long time is deemed extremely significant as it reflects the importance Beijing attaches to Bangladesh-China ties, diplomatic sources told The Independent.
Former and present diplomats, however, have placed great emphasis on Bangladesh’s skill and ability to make the most of the visit.
While commenting on the visit, a diplomat said, “China seems to be ready to give us whatever we want. We have to make sure that the visit is successful and we are making every effort for that. ” “If everything goes okay, the Chinese President will be in Dhaka from October 15-16,” he said.
President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in the capital from Nepal on October 14 by a special flight, the sources said, adding that the official talks covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations will be held between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Chinese President on that day. On the following day, Xi Jingping will fly to India to attend the eighth BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) Summit to be held in Goa, they said.
Both Dhaka and Beijing are currently working on the details of the visit and as part of the preparations, Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Ma Mingqiang has held a meeting with acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (retd) Khurshed Alam.
“We are still preparing the ground works of the visit,” said another diplomat.
A number of agreements worth billions will be signed during the visit, said the sources. Bangladesh is getting ready to sign agreements on several mega projects during the upcoming visit, said the sources.
The projects include construction of a marine drive expressway and coastal protection from Sitakunda to Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, conversion of the middle-gauge rail track into a dual-gauge one from Akhaura to Sylhet, pre-payment project for the Bangladesh Power Development Board’s (BPDB) distribution zones, expansion and modernisation of Mongla Port facilities, extension of the existing underground mining operations of Barapukuria coal mine to increase the production capacity, expansion of Dhaka-Sylhet highway to four lanes and establishment of a satellite town on the other side of river Karnaphuli, they said. Some of the projects are likely to be implemented under limited tender or direct procurement method, they added.
Among other issues, matters relating to special economic zones for Chinese investors, China’s participation in the construction of a deep seaport as a partner of a consortium and defence will be discussed during the visit, the sources said, adding that the Chinese President is likely to inaugurate the construction of a tunnel under the River Karnaphuli.
Present and former diplomats appeared to be ecstatic about the upcoming two-day trip of the Chinese President, describing it as very auspicious. At the same time, they stressed the need for preparation on the part of Bangladesh so that the visit becomes productive.
“It’s a very welcoming visit. He (the Chinese President) has a soft corner for Bangladesh and we have been longing for this visit. He visited Bangladesh as Vice President,” Ashfaqur Rahman, former Ambassador to China and ex-Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, said. Referring to his visit to Pakistan, Iran and United Kingdom, he said that wherever he went, there were deals worth billions of dollars signed and in Bangladesh this can happen too.
“I hope the visit will be fruitful and auspicious as well as substantive. But, Bangladesh will have to know what to want and here come the skills of our government. I think the government will make the most of the visit. The visit has enormous opportunities,” he said.
Bangladesh will have to tactfully realise things from China without affecting the relationship with regional power like India and global superpower United States, he added.
“Undoubtedly, the visit is very important. Wherever the Chinese President goes he goes there with a big package. This time round too, there should not be any exception,” said Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Chairman of the Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies (BIISS) and a former Ambassador to China.      
He also pointed out, “We have some problems. We even cannot want things properly. On this occasion, we have to be very skilful.”
“The visit also has regional and international significance. It shows Bangladesh is also an important nation,” said the BIISS chairman, emphasising that Dhaka should independently pursue its engagements with China with efforts to bring Delhi and Beijing together for better regional cooperation and development.”