BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday expressed Beijing's backing for Bangladesh in upholding its sovereignty and "rejecting foreign interference", as he met visiting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman here.
Xi also voiced Beijing's backing for Rahman's government, which took charge in February, and that it stands ready to work with Bangladesh to carry out high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and further align development strategies, a press release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect Asia, Africa and Europe through a vast network of railways, ports, highways and energy pipelines, essentially reviving an ancient trade route.
"China supports Bangladesh in upholding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and rejecting foreign interference," Xi told Rahman, who wrapped up his five-day China visit on Friday.
"No matter how the world changes, China will not waver in its commitment to the overall direction of China-Bangladesh friendly relations", he said.
Xi also proposed the establishment of an economic corridor linking Bangladesh, Myanmar and China, aimed at further deepening regional connectivity and trade.
China supports the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor for greater regional connectivity, Xi said. The new corridor is a condensed version of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, proposed by Beijing in 2013, which failed to take off.
Rahman chose to visit Malaysia for his first trip abroad after assuming office. From Kuala Lumpur, he went to the Chinese city of Dalian on Jun 22. In the port city, he took part in a World Economic Forum event, where he made a strong pitch for Chinese investments.
He arrived in Beijing - the last leg of this tour - on Wednesday.
China-Bangladesh ties 'doesn't target third party'
In Beijing, he held a series of meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, over two days.
Rahman on Thursday was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Great Hall of the People by Premier Li, after which the two sides held delegation-level talks and signed 13 memoranda of understanding - covering a range of areas including trade, investment and education.
Rahman also held talks with Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying, earlier on Thursday, during which the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on the Teesta river management and other river projects.
China's involvement in the Teesta river management can potentially complicate Dhaka-New Delhi ties for its strategic significance.
The Teesta river flows from the eastern Himalayas through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it is a key source of irrigation and livelihoods for millions of people.
The Teesta river basin is located near India's sensitive Siliguri Corridor, a 22-km narrow strip of land that connects the mainland with the northeastern states.
However, Beijing on Friday chose to play down such concerns.
"The comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation of the Teesta River is a livelihood project the Bangladeshi side attaches high importance to", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a media briefing here, responding to a question on New Delhi's potential concerns.
"China is ready to do what it can to support this project. I would like to stress that China-Bangladesh cooperation does not target any third party and should be free from third party influence", he said, without naming any country.
Elaborating on Rahman's talks with Chinese leaders, Guo said the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.
Broad-based common understandings and a series of practical cooperation results have been achieved, which forms the new strategic planning for the development of China-Bangladesh relations, he said.
'Bangladesh opposes any form of Taiwan independence'
On his part, PM Rahman told Xi that China holds a significant place in Bangladesh's foreign policy and is a valued and trusted partner of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is firmly committed to the one-China principle, recognises Taiwan as an integral part of China's territory and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence", he said.
Bangladesh fully supports Xi's global initiatives and is ready to strengthen coordination and collaboration with China on international and regional affairs, according to the Chinese press release.
Mahdi Amin, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh prime minister's office, who briefed the media separately on the talks between the two top leaders, said they discussed Chinese support for modernising Chittagong and Mongla sea ports.
"We want to work on how this port can be developed into a regional hub that will serve not only Bangladesh but also other countries," Amin said, without identifying any country.
Amin also said, for the first time, Bangladesh and China have reached an understanding on a "2+2 dialogue" mechanism covering foreign affairs and defence, the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency reported.
Representatives from the foreign and defence ministries of both countries will hold regular dialogues in future, and the details of the instrument are being worked out, he said.
However, there was no reference to a tripartite dialogue involving Pakistan, China and Bangladesh, which was initiated by the three countries during the previous Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime.
Also, in a significant development, Amin told the press that Mandarin is being prioritised as a third language in Bangladesh's education system, along with technical and vocational education.
Dhaka has also sought China's support to build hospitals and easing of visa regulations for Bangladeshis to undergo treatment in hospitals in Chinese cities like Kunming.
Regarding Bangladesh's interest in joining BRICS, Amin said China welcomed Dhaka's future application for membership.