Bangladesh seeks China's support in Teesta river restoration project

The issues concerning the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project TRCMRP were discussed in a meeting between Bangladeshs Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha BSS news agency.

Bangladesh's new government, headed by Tarique Rahman, has formally sought China's involvement and support for the Teesta River restoration project, a move that may cast shadow on New Delhi-Dhaka ties. The issues concerning the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP) were discussed in a meeting between Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency. 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. Expressing support for the new Bangladesh government, Wang said the bilateral relationship has withstood the test of changing international dynamics and grown increasingly mature and stable. China respects Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty and national dignity, as well as the development path and political system chosen by its people, and supports Dhaka in pursuing an independent foreign policy, Wang said, according to an official press release here. He also said China's relations with Bangladesh and other South Asian countries are not targeted at any third party, nor should they be influenced by any third party, in an apparent reference to India's concerns over close ties between Dhaka and Beijing. Wang said China also supports the new Bangladeshi government in maintaining unity and stability, revitalising and growing the economy and continuing to provide support and assistance to Bangladesh to the best of its ability. The government will also encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh, he said. This is Rahman's first visit to China after the new government headed by Tarique Rahman took over power in February this year. He arrived here on May 5 and is scheduled to leave on Thursday. Last month, Rahman was in India. His talks with Indian leaders were closely watched in Beijing as the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus had sought closer ties with China and Pakistan after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, straining ties between Dhaka and New Delhi. During the Yunus period, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh formed a trilateral dialogue mechanism. Significantly, there is no reference to the trilateral mechanism in the readouts put out after the Wang-Rahman talks. China has for years shown interest in developing the TRCMRP, located near India's sensitive Siliguri Corridor connecting the mainland with the northeastern states. Against this backdrop, India in 2024 offered technical and conservation assistance for the Teesta basin, reflecting Delhi's efforts to deepen cooperation with Dhaka on transboundary river management. Water sharing remains a key issue in bilateral ties, with the India-Bangladesh Ganges Water Treaty -- signed in 1996 for 30 years to govern dry-season sharing of the Ganges river -- due to expire this year unless renewed. The development comes at a time when China has expanded its economic and diplomatic footprint in Bangladesh in recent years. China is Bangladesh's fourth-largest lender after Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, with total loans disbursed since 1975 amounting to USD 7.5 billion, according to Bangladeshi media reports. During Wednesday's meeting, Bangladesh and China agreed to enhance synergy between their development strategies to advance the China-Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Rahman, for his part, said China has always been a trustworthy and indispensable friend and partner to Bangladesh. The new Bangladeshi government attaches high importance to its relations with China, according to an official Chinese readout. He reiterated Bangladesh's firm adherence to the One-China principle and reaffirmed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, while expressing opposition to any form of ''Taiwan independence''. Regarding the Rohingya crisis, Wang said it would continue supporting Bangladesh and Myanmar in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of forcibly displaced people from Rakhine State through dialogue and consultations, and would continue supporting repatriation efforts to the best of its capabilities.