PM’s China Tour Elevates Dhaka-Beijing Ties to Highest Level: Chinese Ambassador

Describing the just-concluded visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to China as a 'complete success,' Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Thursday said that the tour has injected strong momentum into the growing relations between Dhaka and Beijing.

Speaking to reporters at the Chinese Embassy alongside Director Zhang Jing and Counselor Song Yang to highlight the outcomes of the historic trip, Ambassador Yao emphasized the transformative nature of the diplomatic mission. 

"It's a complete success. It's a milestone in Bangladesh-China relations which reached a new strategic height," he stated. 

The Ambassador noted that a new level of mutual trust has developed between the two countries as a result of the trip, pointing to the proposed Bangladesh-Myanmar-China Economic Corridor as a major new strategic opportunity for the region. 

Responding to inquiries about the framework, Yao explained that while discussions on a broader Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor began 15 years ago, no progress had been achieved. 

He asserted that China remains firmly determined to build the revised Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor for broader regional cooperation. 

The Ambassador clarified that China remains open to India and any other nations wishing to join the initiative, but noted that "those countries need to make decisions."

The landmark visit yielded substantial diplomatic breakthroughs, including the launch of a strategic dialogue at the foreign minister level and the exploration of a "2+2" dialogue mechanism covering diplomacy and defence. 

Commenting on bilateral security ties, Ambassador Yao observed that Bangladesh-China cooperation is comprehensive, and defence cooperation is a natural part of that relationship, though he declined to make specific comments on any individual defence purchases. 

The "2+2" dialogue mechanism, typically a high-level format involving the foreign and defence ministers of both nations, was once a signature diplomatic tool of Western nations but is now actively utilised by Beijing to strengthen strategic partnerships, deepen regional security cooperation, safeguard political systems, and coordinate diplomatic responses to external pressures. 
Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman recently addressed the potential framework at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while outlining the achievements of the Prime Minister’s twin visits to Malaysia and China, stating, "We have not taken any decision yet (regarding '2+2' dialogue mechanism). It's still at the exploration stage...we will explore it."

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman further revealed that bilateral relations have officially been elevated from a "Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership" to a "Bangladesh-China Community with a Shared Future." 

The Foreign Minister told reporters that "this is the highest step in terms of China's bilateral engagement." 

To solidify these ties, Dhaka and Beijing signed a total of 17 bilateral instruments, including memorandums of understanding (MoUs), agreements, a joint action plan, and an agricultural trade protocol. 

A highly significant MoU on promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) was inked, which focuses on humanity’s shared development needs, aligns closely with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and addresses global development challenges. 

Reflecting political alignment, another crucial MoU on exchanges and cooperation was signed at the party-to-party level between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Communist Party of China to establish a formal partnership aimed at strengthening political cooperation.

The extensive list of signed documents includes a foundational agreement on development cooperation between Bangladesh and China, an agreement on the expansion and modernisation of the Mongla Port Facilities Project, and an MoU on the joint implementation of the 2026 Human Resources Development Cooperation Programme. 

In the agricultural sector, an important trade protocol was signed regarding the phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh jackfruit from Bangladesh to China. 

Media and informational ties were reinforced through a memorandum on deepening cooperation between China Media Group (CMG) and Bangladesh Television (BTV), an MoU between CMG and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh, an MoU between Xinhua News Agency and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), and an additional MoU between Xinhua News Agency and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

Educational ties were boosted via an agreement on cooperation in Chinese language education and an MoU on strengthening cooperation in vocational education. 

The two countries also agreed to facilitate green financing through an MoU on promoting investment cooperation in green development, while aiming to enhance Bangladesh's export capacity via a dedicated export promotion joint action plan. 

Industrial layout agreements were also finalized, featuring an industrial development and land lease agreement for the Chattogram Economic Industrial Zone (CEIZ), an MoU on cooperation for the development of the China-Bangladesh Mongla Port Economic Zone, and an investment cooperation agreement with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Environmental governance and water management formed another core pillar of the bilateral consensus. 

Bangladesh and China agreed to deepen cooperation in integrated water resources management, water resources planning, hydrological forecasting, flood prevention and disaster reduction, river dredging, and related technology sharing. 

Ambassador Yao highlighted that the long-discussed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP) was heavily featured during the high-level visit because the livelihoods of millions of people are directly involved. 
Reaffirming China's position, the Ambassador stated, "Teesta is a Bangladesh project. It's your project." 

Both sides saw significant progress regarding the TRCMRP, with China reaffirming that it would provide all possible assistance, leading to a mutual agreement to accelerate the project's comprehensive feasibility study.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returned home to Dhaka on Friday after wrapping up this highly consequential first overseas tour since taking office, which included official visits to both Malaysia and China. 

During the Chinese leg of the trip, the Prime Minister attended the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), popularly known as the Summer Davos, held in Dalian, China. 

Attending as a prominent leader representing emerging economies, the Prime Minister was invited to deliver a keynote address focusing on global climate change challenges, reflecting international recognition of Bangladesh's leading role in addressing environmental vulnerabilities. 

In addition to geopolitical and environmental forums, the bilateral discussions in Beijing successfully expedited the timeline for implementing the Mongla Port Modernisation and Expansion Project and the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone Development Project in Chattogram. 

The two nations concluded their meetings by agreeing to actively cooperate on both large and small public welfare projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), while continuing to map out enhanced regional connectivity, particularly focusing on multimodal transport links stretching from Kunming directly to Bangladeshi ports.

With Inputs from UNB