UNB, Dhaka :
Having a strategic location, Bangladesh has a tremendous opportunity to gain from China in a very bigger way and the forthcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping with subsequent healthy cooperation could be a game-changing one for stronger Bangladesh.
Speakers at roundtable here on Monday came up with the views stressing that Dhaka needs smart negotiations with Beijing as Bangladesh is now witnessing a very high momentum of Chinese interest here.
“We obviously need very smart negotiations with China. We’re hoping that the negotiations would be made in a way that it’ll end up with a win-win solution,” said Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Mustafizur Rahman. The economist said maintaining good governance having institutional capacity and efficient implementation capacity is also important as Bangladesh will be dealing with huge Chinese investment over the next five years and currently there is a discussion about $ 23 billion Chinese investment.
“As we’re talking about big and large projects and we really can’t afford to make any mistake,” said the CPD Executive Director mentioning that Chinese investment can make a big change in the country.
The Daily Star arranged the roundtable titled ‘Bangladesh-China Relations: Connecting the two Economies’ at The Daily Star Centre, attended by current and former diplomats, experts and business leaders.
The Daily Star Associate Editor Brig Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan conducted the discussion.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam in his concluding remarks said after many, many years Bangladesh is in a happy position being seriously considered by regional and global powers in terms of investment and partnership. “We think, as Bangladeshis, this visit is going to be very significant. Bangladesh must make the best use of it,” he said adding that the mega projects, being discussed, could be game-changing projects for Bangladesh. Mahfuz Anam said they look forward to a very healthy cooperation with all major powers but do not want to be brawn to the rivalry that exists.
“We’re truly friends with everybody, we truly want to be benefited from the situation now exist …we truly want to fly on the wings of India and China but for god’s sake we don’t want to be brawn in the historic legacy of rivalry,” he added. The Star Editor also said Bangladesh has unique, brilliant and beautiful opportunities to really engage itself with all these powers and move on.
President of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) Farooq Sobhan said the ultimate challenge for Bangladesh is to have a ‘proactive diplomacy’. “We have to be much more engaged with the international community and with the region including big neighbors.” Prof Rahman laid emphasis on attracting Chinese investment to infrastructure development apart from FDI in economic zones.
Having a strategic location, Bangladesh has a tremendous opportunity to gain from China in a very bigger way and the forthcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping with subsequent healthy cooperation could be a game-changing one for stronger Bangladesh.
Speakers at roundtable here on Monday came up with the views stressing that Dhaka needs smart negotiations with Beijing as Bangladesh is now witnessing a very high momentum of Chinese interest here.
“We obviously need very smart negotiations with China. We’re hoping that the negotiations would be made in a way that it’ll end up with a win-win solution,” said Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Mustafizur Rahman. The economist said maintaining good governance having institutional capacity and efficient implementation capacity is also important as Bangladesh will be dealing with huge Chinese investment over the next five years and currently there is a discussion about $ 23 billion Chinese investment.
“As we’re talking about big and large projects and we really can’t afford to make any mistake,” said the CPD Executive Director mentioning that Chinese investment can make a big change in the country.
The Daily Star arranged the roundtable titled ‘Bangladesh-China Relations: Connecting the two Economies’ at The Daily Star Centre, attended by current and former diplomats, experts and business leaders.
The Daily Star Associate Editor Brig Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan conducted the discussion.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam in his concluding remarks said after many, many years Bangladesh is in a happy position being seriously considered by regional and global powers in terms of investment and partnership. “We think, as Bangladeshis, this visit is going to be very significant. Bangladesh must make the best use of it,” he said adding that the mega projects, being discussed, could be game-changing projects for Bangladesh. Mahfuz Anam said they look forward to a very healthy cooperation with all major powers but do not want to be brawn to the rivalry that exists.
“We’re truly friends with everybody, we truly want to be benefited from the situation now exist …we truly want to fly on the wings of India and China but for god’s sake we don’t want to be brawn in the historic legacy of rivalry,” he added. The Star Editor also said Bangladesh has unique, brilliant and beautiful opportunities to really engage itself with all these powers and move on.
President of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) Farooq Sobhan said the ultimate challenge for Bangladesh is to have a ‘proactive diplomacy’. “We have to be much more engaged with the international community and with the region including big neighbors.” Prof Rahman laid emphasis on attracting Chinese investment to infrastructure development apart from FDI in economic zones.
