China has expressed interest in providing technical assistance for Bangladesh’s Teesta master plan, officials said following a high-level bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Thursday.
The meeting was held at 5pm local time at the Great Hall of the People, where discussions focused on expanding trade and investment, boosting employment, and strengthening broader bilateral and regional cooperation.
Earlier, Tarique Rahman was accorded a red-carpet reception and guard of honour on his arrival. Thirteen Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Bangladesh and China, which officials said would elevate ties to a new level.
Speaking at a post-meeting press briefing, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson and adviser Mahadi Amin said the Teesta project is part of a master plan included in the BNP election manifesto.
He said China has offered to extend technical support from the planning stage through to implementation, based on its expertise in infrastructure and water resource management.
“China has expressed interest in being involved throughout the process—planning, defining and execution of the project—wherever technical input is required,” he said.
Mahadi Amin said a joint feasibility study is “essential” for a project of this scale. He added that China has agreed in principle to work with Bangladesh on such a study, particularly in areas related to water resource management and drainage systems suited for a riverine country like Bangladesh.
He also noted that China is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, but the trade balance remains heavily skewed. While imports from China significantly exceed exports, there is scope to both increase exports to and optimise imports from China, he added.