Beijing expands Indian Ocean footprint with Bangladesh port deal
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman met Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday, wrapping up his five-day visit to China, during which the two sides formalised a deal to develop an economic zone near Mongla port, replacing a previously proposed Indianbacked venture. The land for the zone at Mongla — Bangladesh’s second-largest seaport after Chittagong — was initially earmarked for India, but was delisted by the Muhammad Yunus interim govt in 2025 as ties deteriorated following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as PM in 2024. The project could expand China’s strategic footprint in Bay of Bengal and wider Indian Ocean region — where Beijing has invested in ports from Gwadar in Pakistan to Djibouti in East Africa. China supports Bangladesh’s new govt in its smooth administration and stands ready to carry out high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation with Dhaka, Xi told Tarique, while assuring the PM that China is willing to map out key cooperation with Bangladesh and tap into the potential for collaboration in green and low-carbon development, digital economy, information technology, AI and other fields. The two sides also agreed to jointly advance the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong, while China pledged support for the Teesta river management and restoration project — a part of Beijing’s bid to seek deeper cooperation in integrated water resources management with Bangladesh that shares 54 rivers with India. “No matter how the world changes, China will not waver in its commitment to the overall direction of BangladeshChina friendly relations, and will always be a trustworthy good friend, good neighbour, and good partner of Bangladesh,” according to a joint statement. It was also agreed to strengthen cooperation in maritime affairs, agriculture, education, trade and investment, and technology sharing, and further advance development of the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor, it said.
