Bangladesh and China moved to significantly deepen their strategic and economic partnership yesterday as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held high-level talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, secured 13 cooperation agreements, courted major Chinese investors and advanced discussions on key national priorities, including the Teesta project, trade, investment and infrastructure.
The day’s engagements marked the most substantive phase of Tarique Rahman’s four-day visit to China, with Beijing according him full state honours, including a ceremonial reception, guard of honour and gun salute at the Great Hall of the People before formal bilateral talks.
The two sides signed 13 memorandums of understanding covering investment, green development, education and other areas of cooperation, while also discussing a Joint Action Plan aimed at expanding bilateral collaboration.
Officials said the agreements are expected to strengthen Bangladesh-China relations across trade, investment, development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
The prime minister is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, where Dhaka is expected to raise several issues linked to Bangladesh’s strategic and economic interests.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh expects the visit to usher in a new phase of cooperation extending from strategic engagement and infrastructure development to employment generation and investment.
“We hope these discussions will produce outcomes that further strengthen Bangladesh’s development,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying called on the prime minister at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where both sides reached a consensus on expanding cooperation on the long-discussed Teesta Master Plan alongside river management, flood control, dredging, erosion prevention, irrigation and inland navigation.
According to the PMO, China also expressed interest in supporting Bangladesh through research, technical training and institutional capacity building in water-resource management.
Investment emerged as another major focus of the visit.
Addressing an “Invest Bangladesh” forum jointly organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Tarique Rahman invited Chinese companies to expand manufacturing and industrial investment in Bangladesh.
More than 80 senior executives from leading Chinese companies attended the event.
Highlighting the government’s economic reform agenda, the prime minister said Bangladesh is implementing a 180-day action plan to improve the investment climate through regulatory reforms, faster approvals and the development of new economic zones.
He announced that new investment licences would be issued within 15 days and highlighted planned industrial zones in Anwara and Mongla, as well as Bangladesh’s first dedicated investment office in China.
Chinese business leaders also shared investment proposals and expectations during the meeting.
The prime minister also held discussions with executives from several major Chinese corporations, including representatives of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, China Railway Construction Corporation and China Road and Bridge Corporation, focusing on infrastructure investment, trade expansion and industrial cooperation.
In a separate political engagement, Tarique Rahman, who also chairs the BNP, held a party-to-party meeting with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
The two sides agreed to strengthen political dialogue and expand long-term cooperation in development, investment and public engagement.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the BNP and the Communist Party of China.
According to the PMO, the Chinese side reaffirmed support for Bangladesh’s sovereignty, security and development while expressing interest in expanding political, economic and people-to-people ties.
Following the bilateral talks, Premier Li hosted an official banquet in honour of the Bangladeshi prime minister and his delegation.
Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh’s foreign policy under Tarique Rahman seeks to strengthen international partnerships while placing national interests first.
“This visit aims to deepen Bangladesh-China relations across multiple dimensions -- from strategic cooperation and investment to development projects, employment and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
The spokesperson also noted that the prime minister’s China visit followed successful engagements in Malaysia and at the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos meeting in Dalian, where he promoted Bangladesh’s climate agenda and investment opportunities before global political and business leaders.
Today’s meeting with President Xi Jinping is expected to be the diplomatic highlight of the visit.
Officials said the prime minister will raise issues related to Bangladesh’s national interests during the talks, while discussions are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, strategic infrastructure and development partnerships.
The prime minister will also meet Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, before concluding his first overseas tour since taking office and returning to Dhaka on the evening.
MoUs at a glance
- Investment cooperation – Chinese investment in Anwara and Mongla economic zones.
- Green development – Cooperation on sustainable development.
- Joint Action Plan – Strengthening bilateral cooperation.
- Global Development Initiative (GDI): Health – Cooperation in healthcare.
- GDI: Education – Cooperation in education.
- GDI: Human resource development – Capacity building and training.
- Human resource development – Skills and manpower cooperation.
- Jackfruit exports – Market access for Bangladeshi jackfruit.
- Mandarin education – Introducing Mandarin in schools.
- Technical and vocational education – TVET cooperation.
- Xinhua cooperation – News and information exchange.
- China Media Group cooperation – Broadcasting and technology collaboration.
- Think tanks & Global South media – Research and media cooperation.