Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Kazakh Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov on Wednesday agreed to pursue the establishment of permanent diplomatic missions in each other’s capitals, as the two countries moved to deepen political, economic and trade ties during talks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos in China.
The meeting, held in the Chinese port city of Dalian, reflected Bangladesh’s growing effort to expand its diplomatic and economic engagement beyond traditional partners while exploring new markets and investment opportunities in Central Asia.
During the talks, the two leaders emphasized the need to strengthen bilateral relations and identified the opening of resident embassies in Dhaka and Astana as a key step toward boosting cooperation.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said stronger institutional links would help expand political contacts, increase trade and investment, and create greater opportunities for people-to-people engagement between the two countries.
The leaders also agreed on the importance of regular exchanges between government officials, business communities and other stakeholders to unlock new avenues of cooperation.
Trade, investment and workforce mobility featured prominently in the discussions.
The two sides explored opportunities for collaboration in skilled manpower recruitment, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, technology, agribusiness and food processing industries.
Kazakh Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov expressed optimism about expanding economic relations and increasing investment cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting also touched on global water challenges, with the Kazakh premier seeking Bangladesh’s support for Kazakhstan’s proposal to establish a specialized United Nations agency on water diplomacy.
Tarique Rahman expressed support for the initiative, stressing that growing water insecurity requires stronger international cooperation and coordinated global action.
Officials said the discussions highlighted the shared interest of both countries in broadening engagement and building a long-term partnership across multiple sectors.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions, widely known as Summer Davos, where the prime minister is participating as part of his four-day visit to China.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kabir and other senior officials accompanied the prime minister during the meeting.
The talks came ahead of Tarique Rahman’s scheduled meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing, which are expected to focus on trade, investment, infrastructure and broader economic cooperation.