Longi, the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer, has announced plans to establish an office and invest in solar panel manufacturing in Bangladesh, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, revealed on Sunday.

The announcement followed a visit in December by several leading Chinese solar panel manufacturers, who explored investment opportunities in the country.

The visit was prompted by an invitation from Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who encouraged Chinese companies to relocate their manufacturing plants to Bangladesh as part of the Interim Government’s strategy to turn the nation into an economic hub.

Ambassador Yao Wen confirmed that at least two Chinese firms, including Longi, are set to invest in Bangladesh soon.

‘They will invest in Bangladesh very soon,’ he told Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Yao Wen said Chinese firms have been the largest investors in Bangladesh since August 5, when the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power.

He said dozens of Chinese companies have lined up to invest in Bangladesh as a dedicated Chinese export processing zone is expected to work soon.

Yao Wen said the upcoming official visit of the Chief Adviser to China would be the most important one in the 50-year-long relationship between the two ‘trustworthy’ and close friends.

Professor Yunus welcomed more Chinese investors in Bangladesh, saying the country can be a top manufacturing hub for companies who want to export goods to Western nations.

He urged Chinese hospital chains to set up top clinics here or build joint venture healthcare facilities with their Bangladeshi counterparts.

‘Bangladesh needs massive investment in healthcare. The Chinese hospital chains now have unique opportunities to construct hospitals here,’ he said.

The ambassador said China has dedicated four hospitals in the southern Chinese city of Kunming for Bangladeshi patients. A group of Bangladeshi people travelled to Kunming last week for treatment.

The ambassador said Peking University, one of the world’s top educational institutions, would confer an honorary doctorate to Professor Yunus during the visit.

The Chief Adviser would also speak at the university.

During the visit, the first bilateral foreign tour of the Chief Adviser, he would join and speak at the Boao Forum, considered the Davos of the East, where top leaders and CEOs gather every year to discuss top global issues.

Professor Yunus would deliver a speech on Asia in a Changing World: Towards a Shared Future. The Chinese executive vice premier will also join him during the session.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28. The two countries will issue a joint statement after the meeting.