Dhaka closely monitors Taiwan developments

Bangladesh has iterated its firm adherence to ‘One China’ policy and urged the parties concerned to resolve their differences in accordance with the UN Charter and through dialogue.

“We hope it will not further aggravate...the world can’t afford to have another crisis,” said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Thursday, adding that the world is going through enough crises.

Bangladesh has urged all parties concerned to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from any actions that may aggravate tensions and undermine peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Bangladesh is closely following the developments in the Taiwan Strait, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Beijing welcomes Dhaka’s one-China principle

China highly appreciates Bangladesh’s longstanding commitment to the one-China principle and resolute opposition to “Taiwan Independence”, the country’s envoy in Dhaka said on Thursday

“We believe that the government and people of Bangladesh will continue to abide by the one-China principle, understand and support China’s legitimate and justified position on Taiwan question,” Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming said.

In a statement regarding US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, he said China and Bangladesh are good neighbours, trustworthy friends and reliable partners.

The two countries have always understood and supported each other on issues of core interests concerning respective sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, said the envoy.

Bangladesh, China to ink multiple documents during Chinese FM’s tour

Bangladesh and China are likely to sign multiple MoUs and agreements during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit that begins Saturday morning.

Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam said the list is not finalised yet and it can be five-seven - new and renewal including cooperation on the disaster management and cultural exchange fronts.

He assured that the planned MoUs and agreements will be aligned with Bangladesh’s cultural, social and economic policy though the list is not finalised yet.

The state minister said the relationship between Bangladesh and China is “deep and wide” and the two countries will discuss areas of future cooperation.

Shahriar said the Chinese foreign minister is scheduled to arrive here at 11:00am on Saturday while he will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday morning.

Minister Wang will also have a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen the same day to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will host a dinner in honour of the Chinese Foreign Minister Saturday evening, Shahriar said.

Foreign Minister Momen is expected to return home Saturday night after attending the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting on August 5-6 in Cambodia.

It is not yet decided who will receive the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Responding to a question, Shahriar said Bangladesh will seek a stronger role from the Chinese government for early repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and there is a tripartite mechanism - Bangladesh, Myanmar and China - to discuss and resolve the crisis.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said taking a new loan from China will not be a part of their agenda during the Chinese Foreign Minister’s upcoming Bangladesh visit.

“This time, the issue of taking loan afresh isn’t there at least,” he said on Wednesday when a reporter wanted to know whether Bangladesh is going to take a loan from China again.

Asked what message this visit carries amid the crisis in various parts of the world, the foreign secretary said it will be known once the Chinese foreign minister comes. “We are working on the visit. Things are yet to be finalised.”

He iterated that the visit is part of the Chinese side’s routine visit to the region and also it is an opportunity to review the existing engagements between the two countries.

“It can’t be said (there’s) urgency (from the Chinese side). Since he will be visiting this region, he expressed the desire to come here if we can give him time. We are looking into the timings,” he said earlier when a reporter wanted to know why there was so much urgency from the Chinese side.

In January 2017, Wang Yi had an hour-long stopover in Dhaka. “This time, he will be coming for a longer period,” said the foreign secretary.

Wang is a member of the 19th CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and a member of the Leading CPC Members Group of the State Council.