Bangladesh has formally requested China’s involvement and support for the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), marking a significant step in the deepening ties between the two nations.

The proposal was made during a high-level bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on Wednesday.

The Foreign Minister is currently on an official visit to China from May 5 to 7 at the invitation of Wang Yi, his first since assuming office.

According to a joint press release issued after the meeting, the two leaders held in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, reaching a broad consensus while reaffirming their "firm commitment to supporting each other's core interests and addressing major concerns."

The ministers agreed to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges.

They pledged to deepen political mutual trust and enhance the synergy between their respective development strategies to further advance the China-Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

In a significant diplomatic gesture, Bangladesh reiterated its "firm adherence to the One-China principle," reaffirming that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and expressing opposition to any form of "Taiwan independence."

In response, China reiterated its support for Bangladesh in "safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," while expressing respect for the development path independently chosen by the Bangladeshi people.

The two sides agreed to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, with plans to expand collaboration across economy, trade, investment, industry, the digital economy, water resources, health, and people-to-people exchanges.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman expressed high appreciation for Chinese President Xi Jinping's initiative of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" and welcomed China’s major global initiatives.

Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, multilateralism, democracy in international relations, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Turning to regional stability, Bangladesh lauded China's proposals on safeguarding peace in the Middle East.

Both sides issued a joint call for an "immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, protection of non-military targets, restoration of peace and security, and maintaining normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz."

Regarding the ongoing Rohingya crisis, China stated it would "continue supporting Bangladesh and Myanmar in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of forcibly displaced people from Rakhine State through dialogue and consultations," further pledging to support repatriation efforts to the best of its capabilities.

Concluding the meeting, Dr. Khalilur Rahman extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time, signaling a continued trajectory of close diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and Beijing.