Prime Minister Tarique Rahman used the opening day of his China visit to pitch Bangladesh as an investment destination and link the country’s economic ambitions to climate resilience, as his government seeks to attract foreign capital, create jobs and deepen international partnerships.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos in the Chinese port city of Dalian, the prime minister outlined an agenda centered on investment, economic liberalization and climate action, while holding meetings with global business and policy leaders ahead of key bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang later this week.
Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said the government is pursuing deregulation and economic reforms to build investor confidence and position Bangladesh as a competitive destination for international capital.
“Bangladesh is working to ensure that its business environment remains open to all. Attracting foreign investment, creating employment and building confidence among global investors are key priorities of this visit,” he told reporters while briefing on the first day of the prime minister’s engagements.
The visit marks Tarique Rahman’s first participation in a major international forum as head of government and comes at a time when Bangladesh is seeking greater foreign investment amid efforts to accelerate growth, expand exports and modernize infrastructure.
At the forum, attended by more than 1,700 participants from over 90 countries and regions, the prime minister sought to project Bangladesh as a country pursuing both economic transformation and climate resilience.
Addressing a session titled “Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape,” he unveiled a series of climate-related commitments, including plans to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, expand water management projects in the Padma and Teesta basins, plant 250 million trees, promote green industries and raise the share of renewable energy to 20%.
“Climate action is not a cost. We see this as an investment in prosperity, stability and a shared future,” the prime minister said.
He also called for stronger global cooperation on climate finance, technology transfer and implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund, arguing that climate-vulnerable countries require greater international support.
The economic dimension of the visit was reinforced during a meeting with World Economic Forum President and Chief Executive Officer Alois Zwinggi, where discussions focused on investment, job creation and Bangladesh’s development agenda.
According to Mahdi Amin, several of the government’s economic initiatives received positive attention during the discussions.
Beyond economic diplomacy, the visit also carries strategic significance. On Tuesday evening, Tarique Rahman joined a state dinner hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang alongside the prime ministers of South Korea, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro and Guinea.
Officials described the gathering as an important platform for informal multilateral engagement ahead of formal bilateral meetings later this week.
The prime minister is scheduled to continue participating in Summer Davos events before travelling to Beijing by high-speed train for talks with Premier Li and President Xi.
Those meetings are expected to focus on trade, investment, infrastructure cooperation, connectivity and other major bilateral issues, including Bangladesh’s efforts to attract larger Chinese investment and strengthen economic ties with its largest trading partner in Asia.
Officials say the visit is aimed at positioning Bangladesh as a more attractive destination for global investors while securing long-term partnerships in climate adaptation, technology and sustainable development.
