Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman holds talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing
Dhaka, June 26
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, marking one of the key engagements of his four-day official visit to China, as the two countries continue to deepen engagement, local media reported.
According to Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, the meeting commenced on Friday morning.
Prime Minister's office spokesperson Mahdi Amin said that the two leaders are expected to hold a wide-ranging discussion on bilateral issues, including trade, investment, infrastructure, connectivity, and other areas of mutual interest, Bangladeshi media reported.
"The Prime Minister is expected to raise a number of issues relating to Bangladesh's interests during his meeting with President Xi Jinping," said Mahdi Amin, speaking to reporters in Beijing ahead of the talks.
The meeting follows Rahman's bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday, during which the two sides reportedly discussed the Teesta project, trade, and investment as well as witnessed the signing of 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
Following the meeting, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took to X and posted: "The two Prime Ministers later led a high-level bilateral meeting, culminating in the signing of two agreements and thirteen Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), marking a significant step forward in Bangladesh-China cooperation and partnership."
Rahman arrived in China's Dalian on Monday night (local time) after concluding his two-day official visit to Malaysia, the first leg of his maiden overseas tour since taking office as Prime Minister.
He is visiting China to cement economic and defence ties, with a fighter jet deal as the centrepiece, signalling Dhaka's apparent strategic tilt toward Beijing, which may risk undermining - if not contradicting - commitments made under the US trade pact.
Reports suggest that during his visit, Rahman may finalise the acquisition of 24 J-10CE fighter jets and separate UAV technology, apart from other possible military cooperation.
Bangladesh's defence deals with China may undermine Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy and raise concerns in New Delhi, especially with advanced aircraft positioned near India's strategic Siliguri Corridor.
Dhaka's pursuit of Chinese fighter jets and UAV technology is not explicitly forbidden in the trade pact, which was signed by the previous Muhammad Yunus-led interim government on February 9, just three days before the general election was held this year, igniting wide criticism.
The visit comes amid Bangladesh's shifting political alignments following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, highlighting a stark pivot in Dhaka's realignment towards countries like China, Turkey, and Pakistan.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm not surprised. After Sheikh Hasina's fall, Bangladesh is recalibrating its foreign policy. The Teesta project and these MoUs show China is ready to invest heavily. But look at Sri Lanka and Maldives—Chinese debt traps are real. Bangladesh should be very careful. Also, why does every new government in Dhaka feel the need to tilt away from India? 🤔
Defence deals with China while having a trade pact with the US? That's diplomatic tightrope walking! But honestly, India needs to step up its game. We've been taking Bangladesh for granted for years. Now with China offering fighter jets and infrastructure projects, Dhaka has options. Time for New Delhi to offer something concrete, not just rhetoric. 😤
From an Indian perspective, this is deeply concerning. The J-10CE deal with UAVs near the Chicken's Neck corridor is not just a symbolic gesture—it's a strategic shift. Bangladesh needs to remember that India has always stood with them during crises, whether it was the Liberation War or natural disasters. China doesn't have that track record of trust.
Look at the bigger picture—Bangladesh is a sovereign nation, and it's natural for them to diversify partnerships. But signing 13 MoUs just two days before the election—that's suspicious timing. The interim government was already controversial, and now Tarique Rahman is making big deals in China. Feels like Dhaka is rushing into this without proper parliamentary oversight. 🇮🇳 needs to watch closely.
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