Reflecting the interim government’s relationship with the Chinese government, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed optimism that although a new government would soon take office, cooperation between Bangladesh and China must continue.

“In a few weeks, I will be out of this office, and a new government will be formed, but the work between our two countries must go on,” he said.

The chief adviser made the remarks when a delegation from the China-Bangladesh Partnership Forum met him on Wednesday at the State Guest House Jamuna, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this morning.

The delegation included senior Chinese academics, investors, and industry leaders from the biomedical, infrastructure, digital, and legal sectors.

Xin-yuan Fu, a leading Chinese biomedical scientist and Director of the West China School of Medicine at Sichuan University, commended Professor Yunus’s vision and said he was looking forward to working with Bangladeshi academics and contributing to improving people’s lives.

Andrew Zilong Wong, senior adviser to the Board of Directors of Walvax Biotechnology, and Yuqing Yao, managing director of Walvax Biotech (Singapore), shared their experience and interest in working with Bangladesh. Walvax has exported its vaccines to at least 22 countries.

The delegation informed the chief adviser that they had engaged with several university students in Bangladesh on artificial intelligence and digitalisation and expressed admiration for the talent and potential of young Bangladeshi minds.

During the meeting, Professor Yunus recalled his long-standing relationship with China, which began through the microcredit movement.

“I had the opportunity to visit remote villages in China and see how people’s lives were being transformed. Later, the Chinese government launched its own programmes inspired by these principles,” the chief adviser said.

Highlighting the interim government’s priorities, the chief adviser said health remains the top concern.

“Our highest priority is healthcare -- how to integrate digital technology so that doctors and patients can connect effectively, medical histories can be preserved digitally, and appointments can be accessed easily,” he said.

He also emphasised the need for social business models in the pharmaceutical sector.

“Medicines cost pennies to produce, yet are sold for dollars. We want to encourage the establishment of social business pharmaceutical companies that focus on helping people, not just profits,” he said.

Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Yunus recalled Bangladesh’s advocacy for patent-free vaccines.

He also shared his vision of establishing a “health city” in the northern region of Bangladesh.

“During my visit to China, I proposed building a 1,000-bed international hospital in northern Bangladesh. It is a poor region but strategically located near India, Nepal, and Bhutan,” he said.

He explained that the proposed health city would include hospitals, medical colleges, research centres, vaccine production facilities, pharmaceutical industries, and medical equipment hubs.

“All health-related activities would be located in one city. People from India, Nepal, and Bhutan could also benefit by accessing quality healthcare facilities there,” he added.

Professor Yunus expressed his gratitude to the government of China for its continued support and cooperation.