Dhaka-Beijing defence cooperation part of comprehensive engagement: Ambassador Yao
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Thursday described the just-concluded visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to China as a "complete success," stressing that the visit injected strong momentum into growing Dhaka-Beijing relations.
"It's a complete success. It's a milestone in Bangladesh-China relations, which reached a new strategic height," he told reporters at the embassy while highlighting the outcomes of the visit.
The ambassador said a new level of trust developed between the two countries during the visit and described the proposed Bangladesh-Myanmar-China Economic Corridor as a new strategic opportunity.
Responding to a question, Ambassador Yao said the issue of building an economic corridor is not new, as discussions on the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor took place 15 years ago, but no progress was made.
He said China is determined to build the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor to promote broader regional cooperation.
The ambassador said China remains open to India and any other countries joining, but those countries need to make their own decisions.
Ambassador Yao said the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP) was highlighted during the visit, as the livelihoods of millions of people are involved.
"Teesta is a Bangladesh project. It's your project," he added.
He also spoke about the key achievements of the Prime Minister's visit to China, 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.
Talking about defence cooperation, Ambassador Yao said Bangladesh-China cooperation is comprehensive, and defence cooperation is a part of it.
He declined to comment on any specific defence purchase.
Director at the embassy Zhang Jing and Counsellor Song Yang were also present.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Saturday said Bangladesh's relations with China have been elevated from a "Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership" to a "Bangladesh-China Community with a Shared Future"—the highest level of bilateral cooperation.
"This is the highest step in terms of China's bilateral engagement," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while outlining the achievements of the Prime Minister's twin visits to Malaysia and China.
The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the party-to-party level to establish a formal partnership aimed at strengthening political cooperation.
"We have not taken any decision yet (regarding the '2+2' dialogue mechanism). It's still at the exploration stage... we will explore it," Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur said recently while responding to a question.
The "2+2" dialogue mechanism, typically a high-level format involving the foreign and defence ministers of both countries, was once a signature diplomatic tool of Western nations but is now actively used by China to strengthen strategic partnerships. Beijing uses this framework to deepen regional security cooperation, safeguard political systems, and coordinate diplomatic responses to external pressures.
Bangladesh and China signed 17 bilateral instruments, including MoUs, agreements, a joint action plan, and an agricultural trade protocol, to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The two sides signed an MoU on promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative (GDI).
Another MoU on exchanges and cooperation between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Communist Party of China was also signed.
The GDI focuses on humanity's shared development needs, aligns closely with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and addresses key global development challenges.
The other signed documents include: an agreement on development cooperation between Bangladesh and China; an agreement on the expansion and modernisation of the Mongla Port Facilities Project; an MoU on the joint implementation of the 2026 Human Resources Development Cooperation Programme; an agricultural trade protocol on phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh jackfruit from Bangladesh to China; 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); an MoU between Xinhua News Agency and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; an agreement on cooperation in Chinese language education; an MoU on strengthening cooperation in vocational education; an MoU on promoting investment cooperation in green development; an export promotion joint action plan to enhance Bangladesh's export capacity; 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).
Bangladesh and China also 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.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returned home from Beijing on Friday after wrapping up his first overseas tour, which included visits to Malaysia and China.
The Prime Minister attended the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), also known as the Summer Davos, in Dalian, China, as a leader representing emerging economies.
Bangladesh is playing a leading role in addressing global climate change challenges, and in recognition of this role, the Prime Minister was invited to deliver a keynote address on the issue at the forum.
During the bilateral visit to Beijing, the two countries agreed to expedite the implementation of the Mongla Port Modernisation and Expansion Project and the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone Development Project in Chattogram.
They also agreed to cooperate on both large and small public welfare projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The two sides discussed proposals to strengthen regional connectivity, particularly multimodal transport links from Kunming to Bangladeshi ports, as well as China's proposal for the China-Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
Bangladesh also sees significant progress in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP). China reaffirmed that it would provide all possible assistance, and both sides agreed to accelerate the project's feasibility study.
In addition, the two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in integrated water resources management, flood prevention, river dredging, related technology exchange, and defence cooperation.