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Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meets Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS meeting in Johannesburg, they would likely discuss loan interest rates, regional peace, and stability.
“The meeting time has not been set yet. “Usually, it is decided at the last minute. If I am there, I will talk to the Chinese president about regional peace and stability,” Dr Momen said while replying to a question at the foreign ministry.
The prime minister will leave Dhaka for Johannesburg on Tuesday. She will speak at the BRICS-Africa Outreach and the BRICS Plus Dialogues on Thursday on the last day of the 15th BRICS summit. The foreign minister will accompany her.
On the sidelines, the prime minister is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others.
Due to the time constraint, the meeting with Narendra Modi might not happen since the two leaders would also meet again in Delhi on September 9 and September 10 at the G20 summit.
The meetings are scheduled at a time when Bangladesh’s upcoming general election is in the spotlight.
The US takes interest in free and fair elections. China insists the US is meddling in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. India wants the elections to be held peacefully and as scheduled.
Media reports, however, suggest that India conveyed to the US not to destabilize Sheikh Hasina government for the sake of regional security.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen termed the Indian government as mature, saying any decision Delhi took would be helpful for the region.
“Without peace and stability nothing can happen. Look at Singapore, they developed because of peace and stability. Look at Dubai, it’s also for peace and stability,” the foreign minister said on Monday.
He said during the meeting many things can come up.
“China is our development partner. We have signed many projects, MoUs. It is a total $23 billion project with the government and in addition $13 billion from the private sector. But we got only $4 billion in the last eight years. Expediting the projects can be a topic of discussion,” he said.
“We want loans at a low interest rate. It will be discussed. Interest rates on their (China’s) loans have risen worldwide. We will say it is better if you consider it,” he said.
“There will be climate issues, and migration issues. We also want trade and investment for economic development,” he said, adding that “China has given concessions to Bangladesh for trade. Yet the trade is titled to one side (towards China). We will tell them to increase trade, increase investment.”
Asked whether regional stability will be included in the Dhaka-Beijing talks, the foreign minister said: “It is our concern too. The entire region needs peace and stability. I say it everywhere I go. If I am in the meeting, I will give the message.”
He said if the prime minister remained in power again, it would be good for the region.
“Peace and stability is the most important. Sheikh Hasina is a symbol of peace and stability. If the prime minister can be kept, it will be good for everyone, for the entire region, for us, for India, Nepal, Bhutan….”
“People saw what BNP, Jamaat could do. If they come back in power like 2001-2006, they will promote terrorism, corruption, and jihadists. These have been promoted during their tenure. The country then went into the abyss.”
In response to a question about Bangladesh’s inclusion in the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the foreign minister said: “Our scholars who study these things say that it is good for our country. But we haven’t talked yet. We haven’t signed it yet.”
