PM Tariques’s visit takes relations with China to highest peak

LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressing a discussion organised to celebrate Bangladesh-China relations on Saturday 18 July 2026.

GreenWatch Desk

LGRD Minister and Secretary General of the BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Saturday that the door to a great opportunity has reopened with the visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to strengthen the relations between Bangladesh and China. 

The relations between the two countries date back back to the time of Atisha Dipankar. Ziaur Rahman laid the foundation of friendship. The main goal of our relations is to protect mutual interests, he said at a discussion organized at the Sonargaon Hotel by the Bangladesh China Friendship Association to celebrate the relationship between the two countries. 

Tracing back the relations since the fifties of the last century Mirza Fakhrul said PM Tarique Rahman has carried them further forward. The relationships are now at the highest ebb, he said 

Chief Adviser to the Association Mirza Fakrul addressed the function as the chief guest. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen was the guest of honour and Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahiruddin Swapan the special guest with Nazmul Huq Nannu, president of the association in the chair. He said China's development in economic and scientific fields is tremendous. Sharing of this experience will benefit Bangladesh.

Mirza Fakhrul said that China has to provide leadership against expansionism, hegemonism and injustice and added, ‘we feel safe when relationship with china is strong.’

The LGRD Minister said, we want China to be beside us. We definitely have geopolitical interests. We want similar relations with India, Europe and the USA because we have to employ our 40 million jobless youths and develop the economy. Now relationship is economic.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen Yao Wen underscored long term China Bangladesh cooperation for future development of relations. We can enhance our cooperation. We can bring Chinese high speed tech to Bangladesh. 

He said during his recent visit to China PM Tarique Rahman reminded the contributions made by his father and mother in the development of cooperation. It was the first high level visit after the formation of the new government. 

Leaders of two countries had very productive and in-depth discussions. Yao Wen said President  XI Jinping told the Bangladesh PM that China wanted friendship with all the people of Bangladesh. China also expressed support to safeguard the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. China wanted a Win-win cooperation he said adding Juicy mango and jackfruit are now reaching his country. 

The Ambassador said China will support Teesta comprehensive development project. Experts of the two countries are working on it. Studies are on to gather data and information to determine the basis of work so that the proposed structure stands the test of time.

Saying that his country was committed to help find solution of the Rohingya problem, Yao Wen expressed the hope that the ASEAN, the neighbouring countries and UN agencies will work towards achievement of this goal.

Emphasising the importance of connectivity he said China, Vietnam Bangladesh corridor will facilitate this. China also wanted to further develop maritime cooperation to strengthen connectivity. The recent visit PM Tarique Rahman led Foundation for greater development of cooperation between two countries, Yao Wen added.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahirudin Swapan said that the reletions with China were strategic because Bangladesh wants to benefit from the progresses made in China. He said at present Bangladesh’s imports from China totaled 20b dollars as against only one billion dollar worth of exports, he said.

Referring to the proposed road communication between China, Myanmar and Bangladesh he said Bangladesh welcomes India and any other country to join this. This is a strategic victory, he said.

Swapan said geopolitics is not important to Bangladesh. Rather economic development is important to us. We hope the Rohingya issue will be solved. Our economy needs friendship of China, he added.

Nazmul Huq Nannu expressed the hope that the Teesta Master Plan, the Padma Barrage Project, the China, Myanmar and Bangladesh economic highway project will all be implemented with Chinese support while the Rohingya issue will be solved.