Bangladesh and China have formally agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation regarding the management of the Teesta River and broader water resource initiatives across the South Asian nation.
The consensus was reached during a high-level diplomatic meeting between Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and China’s Minister of Water Resources, Li Guoying. The pivotal talks took place at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on Thursday.
During the summit, Tarique Rahman outlined his administration’s comprehensive river dredging and management initiatives. These programmes are strategically designed to mitigate seasonal flood risks, safeguard local ecosystems, and optimise the overall utilisation of the country’s complex water networks.
Seeking to bolster these ongoing efforts, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman requested advanced technical support from Beijing. He also placed distinct emphasis on the crucial Teesta management project, alongside broader appeals for Chinese assistance with riverbank erosion control, the modernisation of agricultural irrigation systems, and the expansion of inland waterway navigation.
In response to the overture, Minister Li Guoying affirmed Beijing’s commitment to fully supporting Dhaka’s ecological and water management strategies. He also underscored the enduring nature of their collaborative efforts, referencing a foundational Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two nations in 2005.
Emphasising that the Sino-Bangladesh partnership remains deeply rooted in practical and empirical research, Water Resources Minister Li Guoying highlighted the successful dispatch of Chinese hydrological experts to Bangladesh the previous year. Water Resources Minister Li Guoying noted that Dhaka stands to benefit significantly from China’s vast domestic experience in hydraulic engineering and complex river basin control.
To further cement this technical exchange, Minister Li Guoying extended a formal invitation to Bangladeshi water specialists and relevant policymakers to participate in specialised training and knowledge-sharing programmes within China.
The bilateral discussions were attended by a senior Bangladeshi delegation. Prominent figures at the meeting included Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon. Prime ministerial advisers Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Humaiun Kobir, and Mahdi Amin, along with Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, were also in attendance.
The talks in the Chinese capital immediately followed Tarique Rahman’s recent participation at the World Economic Forum’s ‘Summer Davos’ summit in the coastal city of Dalian.
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