Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, delivers a speech at Peking University, where he was conferred with an honorary doctorate, during his visit to Beijing, China, March 29, 2025.
The visit of Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to China from March 26 to 29 was significant for several reasons. It was his first official bilateral visit abroad since the political transition in Bangladesh in August 2024. More importantly, it signaled a growing Bangladeshi reliance on China as its lead economic partner.
During the 15 years of Awami League rule, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was close to India on economic and security matters, even as she tried to walk a tightrope between India and China. Since her resignation on August 5 last year, following weeks of mass protests, things have changed not only in Bangladesh’s domestic politics but also its foreign policy. Yunus’ visit has signaled that the interim government will not hesitate to lean towards China.
With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi neither inviting Yunus to Delhi nor meeting him on the sidelines of global events in the seven months since the political transition in Dhaka, Yunus headed to China.
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