Bangladesh China relations reach highest level after Tarique Rahman China visit

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said Dhaka’s ties with Beijing rose to a new peak. The remarks followed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s five-day visit to China. Speaking on Saturday, the minister described the trip as a major step. Rahman said it reflected Bangladesh’s rising value in China’s regional planning.

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Addressing a press conference a day after PM Rahman returned from Beijing, he said, "This is the highest step in terms of Chinas bilateral engagement.\" Khalilur Rahman said the two sides planned new formats. These aimed to make talks more regular and cover more areas.

Bangladesh China ties: new dialogue formats and BRI cooperation

Khalilur Rahman said both countries agreed to formalise a strategic dialogue at foreign minister level. The two sides also planned a 2+2 format on diplomacy and defence. Rahman said both governments reaffirmed work under the Belt and Road Initiative BRI. This included major infrastructure and people-focused development schemes.

The minister said progress was reported on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project TRCMRP. China pledged support for the Teesta plan, Rahman said. Both sides agreed to speed up the project’s feasibility study. China’s role in Teesta management could affect Dhaka-New Delhi relations due to strategy concerns.

Bangladesh China ties: Teesta river and regional sensitivities

The Teesta river starts in the eastern Himalayas and passes through Sikkim and West Bengal. It then enters Bangladesh, where it supports irrigation and livelihoods for millions. The Teesta basin sits near India’s Siliguri Corridor. The corridor is a 22-km narrow strip linking mainland India to the northeastern states.

Rahman said Dhaka and Beijing also agreed to move faster on other projects. These included the Mongla Port Modernisation and Expansion Project. The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone Development Project in Chattogram was also listed. The minister presented these as part of wider cooperation plans.

Bangladesh China ties: meetings, MoUs and Xi Jinping’s message

During the visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tarique Rahman also held bilateral talks with Premier Li Qiang. Bangladesh and China signed eight memorandums of understanding MoUs. They also signed three agreements, one protocol, and one Joint Action Plan.

The documents covered development cooperation and human resource development, Rahman said. Other areas included agriculture, education, trade, investment and media cooperation. Xi on Friday expressed Beijings backing for Bangladesh in upholding its sovereignty and rejecting foreign interference. The minister linked the outcomes to a stronger partnership framework.

Rahman also outlined the prime minister’s travel sequence for the first overseas tour. Tarique Rahman visited Malaysia on June 21 after taking office. From Kuala Lumpur, Tarique Rahman travelled to China on June 22. Khalilur Rahman earlier served as national security adviser in the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime.

With inputs from PTI