China 2+2 dialogue to begin soon: Humaiun

“The groundwork for the 2+2 engagement is currently being laid for further interactions. So yes, it will commence at a mutually convenient time in the very near future,” he told reporters at the foreign ministry here.

Kobir said this after Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen called on him at the ministry earlier in the day, when the two sides discussed launching a State Minister-level Diplomacy and Defense Dialogue alongside an early Foreign Minister-level Strategic Dialogue.

A 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is a high-level diplomatic meeting between two countries involving their respective foreign and defense ministers.

Asked whether a date had been fixed for the proposed mechanism, bringing together the foreign policy and defence dimensions of bilateral cooperation, the state minister said no specific date had yet been finalised.

“We have not fixed any specific dates yet. However, discussions will take place at that level,” he said.

Kobir described the 2+2 mechanism as a reflection of the growing strategic depth of Bangladesh-China relations and Bangladesh’s increasing geopolitical importance saying “this represents one of the highest levels of strategic cooperation with China.”

He said when a bilateral relationship reaches such a stage, initiatives like the 2+2 mechanism, alongside the “shared community” approach pursued by China, naturally come to the fore.

The state minister said the proposed dialogue also reflected Bangladesh’s growing visibility and importance to major international stakeholders under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government.

“An important stakeholder in our region like China is now willing to build a 2+2 relationship where foreign policy and defence cooperation are valued significantly,” Kobir added.

He said the development demonstrated the importance of Bangladesh’s geopolitical positioning as well as the government’s geopolitical vision.

Kobir said the elected government, backed by a popular mandate, intends to conduct its international engagements “from a position of strength” while strengthening relations with key partners.

“This is possible because of the mandate and trust the people of our country have placed in our government, allowing it to project itself positively from a position of strength in enhancing strong bilateral relations,” he said.

Describing China as an important development partner, Kobir said Bangladesh would positively utilise the proposed platform to discuss and further strengthen bilateral ties.

Meanwhile a foreign ministry’s press release said that, during the meeting, the state minister described China as a trusted friend and valued strategic partner of Bangladesh and reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to the One-China Principle.

He expressed satisfaction over the renewed momentum in bilateral relations and their elevation to a China-Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China.

The two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including cooperation on the Teesta River comprehensive management and restoration and early commencement of the Foreign Minister-level Strategic Dialogue.

They also discussed initiating the process for exporting Bangladeshi jackfruit and guava to China, the China-Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Corridor and cooperation on Rohingya issue.

Ambassador Yao congratulated Kobir on assuming office and sought his support in further advancing the longstanding relationship between Dhaka and Beijing. He also conveyed felicitations from China’s Executive Deputy Foreign Minister to Kobir.

The Chinese envoy briefed the state minister on progress in implementing outcomes of the prime minister’s recent visit to China, including the groundbreaking of the China Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) and signing of a commercial contract for modernisation of Mongla Port.

Possible Chinese cooperation in establishing a Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) also featured in the discussions.

Yao said the CEIZ is expected to attract around 30 Chinese companies with approximately US$500 million in investment, potentially creating an estimated 100,000 jobs for Bangladeshis.

The ambassador also briefed Kobir on a series of upcoming high-level exchanges, including planned visits to Bangladesh by the Vice President of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), and the Executive Vice Governor of Yunnan Province.

Yao also invited Kobir to visit China in October this year.

Kobir described his discussions with the Chinese envoy as very positive, saying they focused on taking forward key foreign policy priorities and adding greater substance to the bilateral relationship, reports BSS.