Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has begun a three-day official visit to China, with key discussions expected on bilateral cooperation, investment ties, and the proposed Teesta Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. The visit began on Monday night when a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Rahman and his wife, Zubaida Rahman, landed at Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport at 11:05 pm.
Rahman is scheduled to participate in the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum 2026, organised by the World Economic Forum in Dalian. During his stay, he is expected to attend a banquet hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and engage in high-level meetings with global leaders attending the forum. The visit is being viewed as an important diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s international economic and strategic partnerships.
On June 24, Rahman is expected to meet the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan before travelling from Dalian to Beijing via high-speed train later in the day. In Beijing, he is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside meetings with leaders of other participating countries, focusing on trade, investment, and development cooperation.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing views the visit as an opportunity to deepen strategic communication and expand cooperation with Bangladesh across multiple sectors. He noted that both sides aim to advance Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, and further develop their comprehensive strategic partnership, which has expanded significantly in recent years.
A key point of attention during the visit is the Teesta river project, which Bangladesh is developing in cooperation with China. The initiative includes river training, dredging, embankment construction, and flow management aimed at improving flood control and water availability. However, the project has drawn attention in India due to its proximity to the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, raising concerns in New Delhi over potential security implications.
The visit comes at a time when China-Bangladesh relations are being described as entering a “Golden 50 Years” phase, marked by expanding infrastructure cooperation, investment discussions, and growing diplomatic engagement. While India continues to monitor developments closely, officials in Dhaka have maintained that Bangladesh’s foreign relations are not zero-sum in nature, as it seeks to balance ties with both regional powers.
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