Expectations were high: Humayun Kabir

In an exclusive interview with a vernacular daily, M. Humayun Kabir, former Bangladesh ambassador to the US and current president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), shared insights on Bangladesh's recent three-day official visit to China by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Here are the highlights of the interview:

Question: China will provide Bangladesh with financial assistance of 1 billion yuan, but the USD 5 billion loan assistance for addressing reserve and economic crises wasn't finalized. Why did this key priority remain unresolved?

Answer: Tangible financial gains were modest, with Bangladesh securing only 1 billion yuan. Potential future commercial loans from China at low or no interest rates may be on the horizon.

Question: Prime Minister Hasina visited India prior to her China trip. What strategy should Bangladesh adopt to maintain a diplomatic balance between these two countries?

Answer: These visits clarified strategic issues with India and China, prompting adjustments in our diplomatic approach. Bangladesh aims to avoid alignment with either side, navigating skilled diplomacy amidst their competing interests.

Question: What are the critical factors in maintaining this skilled diplomacy?

Answer: Bangladesh must tread carefully amidst the strategic maneuvers of India and China, mindful of potential complications. Shifting from Least Developed Country (LDC)-based diplomacy to a more economically robust stance requires a professional approach to safeguard national interests and ensure internal political cohesion.

Question: Bangladesh and China agree on the urgent need for Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar. How do you view China's stance on this issue?

Answer: China's endorsement of immediate repatriation as the sole solution is encouraging. China's involvement in facilitating a tripartite platform for resolving the Rohingya crisis is crucial, and Bangladesh anticipates China's constructive role in addressing this humanitarian challenge.

Question: What are the prospective long-term benefits from Prime Minister Hasina's recent visit to China?

Answer: High-level visits like this enhance bilateral relations beyond immediate gains. This visit has introduced new dimensions to Bangladesh-China relations, emphasizing the importance of Bangladesh's capacity to capitalize on these opportunities and safeguard its national interests with China.

Humayun Kabir underscored the multifaceted impact of such visits on bilateral ties and stressed the importance of leveraging these engagements to bolster Bangladesh's standing and strategic interests vis-à-vis China.