Space Industry and Business News
TRADE WARS
Bangladesh's Yunus heads to China for first state visit
Bangladesh's Yunus heads to China for first state visit
by AFP Staff Writers
Dhaka (AFP) Mar 26, 2025

Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus flew to Beijing on Wednesday for his first state visit as frosty relations with neighbouring India spur his caretaker administration to court new friends.

The 84-year-old Nobel laureate will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday before returning Saturday after several other high-level meetings.

Yunus took charge of Bangladesh last August after the toppling of autocratic ex-premier Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi after a student-led uprising.

India was the biggest benefactor of Hasina's government and her overthrow sent cross-border relations into a tailspin.

"Muhammad Yunus has chosen China for his first state visit and with this Bangladesh is sending a message," Dhaka's top foreign ministry bureaucrat Mohammad Jashim Uddin told reporters on Tuesday.

Several agreements are expected to be signed on economic and technical assistance, cultural and sports cooperation, and media collaboration between the two countries.

"We are expecting declarations on key issues including the economy, investment and economic zones," Jashim Uddin said.

Talks are also expected to touch on Bangladesh's immense population of Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled a violent military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar in 2017.

China has acted as a mediator between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the past to broker the repatriation of the persecuted minority, although efforts stalled because of Myanmar's unwillingness to have them returned.

"Rohingya repatriation will be a point of discussion as we all know China previously attempted to broker a deal," Jashim Uddin said.

Yunus will also attend the Investment Dialogue with Chinese Business Leaders and is set to receive an honorary doctorate from Peking University.

Tensions between India and Bangladesh have prompted a number of tit-for-tat barbs between senior figures from both governments.

They have also almost entirely halted the flow of medical tourism to India by Bangladeshis, thousands of whom crossed the border each year to seek care in their larger neighbour.

Jashim Uddin said talks in Beijing would touch on the establishment of a Chinese "Friendship Hospital" in Bangladesh.

Yunus's caretaker administration has the unenviable task of bedding down democratic reforms ahead of fresh elections expected by mid-2026.

It has requested India allow Hasina's extradition to face crimes against humanity charges for the killing of hundreds of protesters during the unrest that toppled her government, to no avail.

Yunus has also sought a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bid to reset relations, with both expected to be at the same regional summit in Bangkok next month.

His government has yet to receive a response, with Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar saying the request was "under review".

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
China says Canada 'seriously damaging' interests in trade spat
Beijing (AFP) Mar 25, 2025
China on Tuesday accused Canada of "seriously damaging" its interests, defending its tariffs against the country after Ottawa launched a dispute against Beijing at the World Trade Organization. Beijing this month slapped a 100 percent surcharge on rapeseed oil, oil cakes - a type of animal feed - and peas imported from Canada. China said the move was a response to Ottawa's decision last year to place 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, matching US measures seeking to fend ... read more

TRADE WARS
Inner space technology push for next-gen European space microchips

Prospect of copper mine reopening revives tensions in Panama

EU unveils critical material projects to cut China dependence

Young Chinese women find virtual love in 'Deepspace'

TRADE WARS
Unseenlabs opens Singapore office to boost Asia Pacific operations

European satellite group ready to step up for Kyiv's military: CEO

Researchers establish new basis for quantum sensing and communication

Rivada and Amentum Collaborate to Enhance Secure Government Communications

TRADE WARS
TRADE WARS
Chip based microcombs boost gps precision

Unlocking the future of satellite navigation with smart techniques

ESA advances optical technology for next-generation navigation

Galileo ground stations undergo systemwide migration

TRADE WARS
PACIFIC project targets cleaner skies through fuel innovation

France's Dassault says upping Rafale warplane output

Electra secures 2200 aircraft pre-orders for hybrid-electric aviation leap

Boeing to build $20B next-generation F-47 fighter

TRADE WARS
SoftBank to acquire US semiconductor firm Ampere for $6.5 billion

Malaysia's Silicon Valley ambitions face tough challenges

SatixFy expands satellite tech supply deals with MDA Space surpassing 10 million dollars

Spiral Motion of Electrons in Organic Semiconductors Paves the Way for Advanced Electronics

TRADE WARS
Pixxel satellites deliver groundbreaking hyperspectral imaging milestone

Advancing satellite methods for mapping coastal seabeds

Spire debuts AI weather forecasting models built with NVIDIA Omniverse Earth2 tech

Sidus Space launches third LizzieSat satellite with enhanced onboard AI

TRADE WARS
Chewing gum releases microplastics into mouth: researchers

44 people on trial in Vietnam over illegal sand mining

Greenpeace's biggest operations

Separatist group presses boycott over 'ecocide' in Papua

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.