Dhaka, January 29, 2026
publish Dhaka, January 30, 2026
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday met a high-level delegation from the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum, discussing expanded cooperation in healthcare, digital technology, infrastructure, and social business initiatives.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday held a meeting with a delegation of the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum at the State Guest House Jamuna, focusing on strengthening bilateral collaboration in health, infrastructure, digital innovation, and social business.
The delegation comprised senior Chinese academics, investors, and industry leaders from the biomedical, infrastructure, digital, legal, and investment sectors. Among them was Xin-yuan Fu, a prominent Chinese biomedical scientist and Director of the West China School of Medicine at Sichuan University, who praised Professor Yunus’s vision and expressed keen interest in collaborating with Bangladeshi academics to improve people’s lives.
Andrew Zilong Wong, Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors of Walvax Biotechnology, and Yuqing Yao, Managing Director of Walvax Biotech (Singapore), also shared their experiences and enthusiasm for working with Bangladesh. Walvax Biotechnology has exported vaccines to more than 22 countries and has established local subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Indonesia. The company is currently exploring localisation of PCV and HPV vaccines, with Indonesia already moving toward building local production capacity through a signed partnership agreement.
Other members of the delegation included Jinsong Wang, Vice President of the Robotics Society of Singapore; Yuan Feng, Chair of the Management Committee of Fordall Law Firm; Li Ran, Managing Director of Beijing Wutong Asset Management; Gao Zhipeng, Vice President for International Investment and Projects at China State Construction Engineering Corporation; Xu Tianzhao, Investment Director of China Hunan Construction Investment Group; Hua Jie, Vice President of China CCC Engineering Group; Chen Shujian, General Manager for Overseas Markets at PowerChina Overseas Investment Group; Professor Ma Xiaoyuan of Yunnan University; and Alex Wang Zekai, Secretary-General of the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum.
The delegation informed the Chief Adviser that they had interacted with Bangladeshi university students on artificial intelligence and digitalisation and expressed admiration for the talent and potential of the country’s young generation.
During the meeting, Professor Yunus reflected on his long-standing relationship with China, which began through the microcredit movement. He recalled visiting remote villages in China and witnessing how microcredit-inspired initiatives transformed lives.
“I later saw the Chinese government launch its own programmes inspired by these principles,” he said.
Professor Yunus also recalled his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China in March, noting that the Chinese leader had read his book and followed its principles—an experience he described as deeply meaningful.
Emphasising continuity in bilateral relations, Professor Yunus said cooperation between Bangladesh and China must continue regardless of political transitions.
“In a few weeks, I will be out of this office and a new government will form, but the work between our two countries must go on,” he said.
Highlighting the interim government’s priorities, the Chief Adviser stressed that healthcare remains the top concern. He underscored the importance of integrating digital technology into healthcare systems to improve doctor-patient connectivity, preserve medical histories digitally, and ensure easy access to appointments.
He also advocated for social business models in the pharmaceutical sector, criticising profit-driven pricing of essential medicines.
“Medicines cost pennies to produce, yet are sold for dollars. We want social business pharmaceutical companies that focus on helping people, not just profits,” he said.
Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Yunus reiterated Bangladesh’s stance on patent-free vaccines, criticising global inequities in vaccine access during the crisis.
The Chief Adviser further shared his vision of establishing a “health city” in northern Bangladesh, proposing the development of a 1,000-bed international hospital along with medical colleges, research centres, vaccine production units, pharmaceutical industries, and medical equipment hubs.
The proposed health city, he said, would also serve patients from neighbouring India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
The delegation expressed gratitude to Professor Yunus and discussed potential collaboration opportunities across health, infrastructure, and digital sectors. SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.
