Yunus likely to visit China, Thailand and Japan soon to deepen ties

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is likely to visit China, Thailand, and Japan – respectively in March, April, and May as part of his global outreach efforts to strengthen ties and build stronger relationships across countries through cooperation and partnerships, officials said.

Yunus is likely to leave Dhaka on 26 March for China after attending the Independence Day programme as both countries are looking forward to a bilateral meeting on 28 March in Beijing between the two leaders – Chief Adviser Yunus and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On 25 August last year, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen conveyed the Chinese leadership's invitation to Prof Yunus to visit China at his convenience.

"The visit is taking place, as of now. Chief Adviser Dr Yunus is likely to leave Dhaka on 26 March," a senior official told UNB, noting that preparations are underway.

Yunus is likely to travel to Beijing from China's Hainan Province for bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on 28 March, officials working on the visit said, adding that things are yet to be finalised.

As per the plans, the chief adviser will first attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025, which will be held from 25 to 28 March in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.

BFA Secretary General Zhang Jun said with the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a shared Future," this year's event will focus on development, foster dialogue, explore innovative formats and value tangible outcomes, all aimed at promoting international development and cooperation.

Many heads of international and regional organisations, ministerial-level officials, entrepreneurs of Fortune Global 500, and renowned experts and scholars have already confirmed their participation in the annual conference, Zhang said.

He said the event will focus on four subject areas: building trust and promoting cooperation in a fast-changing world; re-balancing globalisation for inclusive development; accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals for more effective responses to global challenges; and strengthening AI application and governance for innovation-driven development.

Possible Yunus-Modi meet in Bangkok

Thailand will host the 6th Summit of Bimstec in Bangkok, and Bangladesh will take responsibility as its next chair on 4 April. Before the summit, there will be a ministerial meeting on 3 April.

The chief adviser is likely to attend the summit, and there is a possibility of seeing a first-ever in-person meeting between Chief Adviser Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit, a diplomatic source told UNB.

Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) Indra Mani Pandey has said Bangladesh, as the next chair of the regional organisation, will have an opportunity to "re-demonstrate to the world" its commitment to regional cooperation by leading the organisation with broader initiatives in diverse areas.

How Dhaka eyes its relations with Delhi now

Chief Adviser Yunus said Dhaka has always insisted that Bangladesh's relationship with India will be the best relationship ever.

Because, he explains, the fate of Bangladesh and India is tied together, and they cannot be isolated from each other.

"So, we are always encouraging everything to happen in the best possible way," Yunus told BBC in a most recent interview, adding that the clouds due to some fake news are not part of the relationship that the two countries enjoy.

The chief adviser thinks Bangladesh and India have an excellent relationship. "We will continue to do it," he said, describing India as a good business partner of Bangladesh.

Talks with Japan

In February this year, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina Akiko invited Chief Adviser Prof Yunus to visit Japan for the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event scheduled for 29-30 May in Tokyo.

She also invited Yunus, a recipient of the Nikkei Asia Prize 2004, to Osaka Expo 2025, a separate event, to be held in May.

Officials said the chief adviser will attend the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event, and both sides are working to arrange a bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.