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Tarique set for talks with Xi, Li after red carpet welcome in Beijing

Beijing meetings will focus attention on the future direction of Bangladesh-China relations

www.thedailystar.net

Tarique set for talks with Xi, Li after red carpet welcome in Beijing

Beijing meetings will focus attention on the future direction of Bangladesh-China relations

BSS, Beijing

Photo: PMO Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman received a red-carpet welcome upon arriving in Beijing today by bullet train from Dalian, where he attended the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting. Accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, he arrived at Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station at 5:35pm local time.

Minister and Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of the General Administration of Customs, Sun Meijun, received the prime minister at the station. Children presented bouquets to the premier and his spouse, while a static guard of honour and a ceremonial welcome were accorded. From Chaoyang, Tarique and his entourage were taken to the Diaoyutai State Guest House in a ceremonial motorcade.

Earlier in the day, Tarique departed Dalian North Railway Station at 1:58pm on a high-speed train. His delegation includes Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, Expatriates Welfare Adviser Mahdi Amin, and Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam.

In Dalian, the prime minister attended the plenary session of the WEF alongside leaders including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral, Montenegro Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, and Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah.

Over 1,700 representatives from more than 90 countries participated.

On June 23, Tarique addressed a WEF session titled “Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape.” On the sidelines, Tarique met WEF President Alois Zwinggi. His visit to China follows a two-day official trip to Malaysia, where he held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Officials described Tarique’s first visit to China as historic, saying it marks the “Golden 50 Years” of Bangladesh-China relations and could help shape the future direction of bilateral ties.

The prime minister is scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang on June 25 and President Xi Jinping on June 26 before returning home that night.​

 

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PM invites China firms to join Bangladesh’s growth story​

16 MIN(s) ago
UPDATED 54 MIN(s) ago


BSS, Beijing

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has invited Chinese companies to expand their manufacturing and supply networks into Bangladesh and co-author the “next great Asian economic miracle.”

“We are inviting Chinese companies to extend their value chains into Bangladesh. We can help Chinese companies serve global markets while benefiting from growing domestic demand,” he said while addressing the Bangladesh Investment Forum at the Diaoyutai Hotel in Beijing yesterday.

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The event, organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), was attended by business leaders, industrialists and institutional investors.

“Bangladesh is inviting you to co-author the next great Asian economic miracle. Many Chinese investors are already operating in Bangladesh. They can speak about our people, our resilience and our potential. They can tell you that Bangladesh can deliver,” he said.

Tarique Rahman invited more Chinese companies to visit Bangladesh, saying his government is firmly committed to ensuring that their investments will be valued, their concerns heard, and their growth supported through a more responsive investment ecosystem.

“Let us move forward from this forum with a shared determination to transform the opportunities in this region towards a long-term sustainable growth, economic development and mutual prosperity for both Bangladesh and China,” he said.

“Come to Bangladesh. Invest in Bangladesh. Let us prosper together in a true partnership of equals,” he added.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is undergoing a monumental economic and governance transformation.

“We are at a critical point of our journey, and I can clearly say that Bangladesh is open for business, ready for the future, and keen to work with China, one of our longstanding and trusted friends,” he said.

China is moving up the global value chain, with its companies becoming leaders in advanced manufacturing, high-value infrastructure and clean energy, he said. As parts of its manufacturing ecosystem seek new, competitive and trusted locations, Bangladesh can be one of them, he added.

“This is a complementary, practical and win-win relationship,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said his government has adopted a rigorous 180-Day Action Plan to overhaul institutions dealing with international capital.

“Through this plan, we are targeting bureaucratic inertia head-on. We are improving long-term policy continuity, reducing overlapping regulatory processes, and digitalising government services to improve transparency, predictability and speed,” he said.

Foreign investors can expect non-discriminatory treatment, repatriation of capital and dividends in line with the country’s laws and regulations, and robust legal protection, he said.

“We are developing dedicated industrial landing points for Chinese investors, including the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anwara and a second economic zone in Mongla,” said the premier.

These locations provide logistics, port connectivity, utilities, workers, suppliers and a long-term ecosystem, he added.

“We are also working with China to upgrade our bilateral investment treaty so that investors can have stronger confidence, clearer protection and a more modern framework for investment,” he said.

He also mentioned that Bida now has a dedicated relationship management desk for Chinese investors, and that there is also a dedicated website for Chinese investors so that sector opportunities, incentives and processes can be accessed more easily.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that Bangladesh would soon open its first “Investment Office” in China.

“The government is about to start a new licensing approval process, which will allow new businesses to start operations in Bangladesh in less than 15 days,” said the prime minister.

Bida Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury delivered a presentation on the investment opportunities and incentives available in Bangladesh to Chinese business leaders.

A total of 125 Chinese business representatives participated in the conference.

Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, Prime Minister’s Adviser and PMO spokesman Mahdi Amin, and Deputy Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, among others, were also present.

 

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China-Bangladesh economic ties in focus as PM Tarique Rahman visits China​

Politics21:59, 25-Jun-2026
CGTN

A congregation of boats are seen moored together as part of a floating fruit market in Rangamati, Bangladesh, on May 30, 2026. / VCG
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for an official visit through June 26, his first overseas trip since taking office.

Before arriving in the Chinese capital, Rahman attended the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, in China's northeastern coastal city of Dalian. The gathering brought together political and business leaders from around the world to discuss growth, innovation and emerging technologies.

Economic and trade ties have long underpinned China-Bangladesh relations. Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1975, the two countries have steadily expanded cooperation across trade, investment and infrastructure. In 2024, bilateral ties were elevated to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Trade lays the foundation

Economic and trade cooperation continues to anchor China-Bangladesh ties. Bangladesh was among the first countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative and has become one of its most active partners.

China has been Bangladesh's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years from 2010 to 2025.

Bangladesh mainly exports garments and agricultural products to China, while importing machinery, industrial materials and other manufacturing equipment.

The textile and apparel industry illustrates the complementary nature of the two economies. China supplies machinery and equipment for Bangladesh's textile sector, while Bangladesh exports finished garments and textile products to China.

Trade ties received another boost after China granted Bangladesh zero-tariff treatment on 100% of tariff lines from December 1, 2024. The policy has made it easier for Bangladeshi agricultural and other products to enter the Chinese market.

The first shipment of Bangladeshi mangoes to China departs from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 28, 2025. / VCG
Investment powers development

As trade continues to grow, investment has become another major pillar of bilateral cooperation.

China is Bangladesh's second-largest source of foreign investment, according to Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen.

Nearly 700 Chinese companies are registered in the country, with businesses spanning power, energy, transport, textiles and information and communications technology. Their investments have created hundreds of thousands of local jobs, Yao said.

Chinese-built power projects, ranging from coal-fired plants to solar and wind farms, now have a combined installed capacity of more than 1 gigawatt, helping strengthen Bangladesh's electricity supply and support local industrial development.

Ahead of Rahman's visit, Bangladesh approved an infrastructure project for the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong, according to Reuters. The project is expected to create around 100,000 jobs and attract more than $500 million in foreign direct investment during its initial phase.

Future cooperation gathers pace

The visit is expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral cooperation.

For Bangladesh, attracting more Chinese investment is high on the agenda. Bangladeshi foreign ministry officials told The Daily Star, one of Bangladesh's top newspapers, that investment promotion will be one of the main priorities during Rahman's visit.

The two sides are expected to sign around a dozen memorandums of understanding covering green energy, electric vehicles, port modernization and industrial parks, expanding economic cooperation beyond traditional trade and infrastructure into greener and higher-value sectors.

Nahian Rahman Rochi, head of Business Development at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, told Xinhua that ensuring sustainable energy supplies remains one of the country's biggest challenges. He described China as an ideal partner in helping Bangladesh develop solar, wind and hydropower.

Bangladesh is also expected to announce its decision to join the Global Development Initiative proposed by China, according to The Daily Star. The initiative aims to advance international development cooperation and accelerate the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Ahead of Rahman's visit, China said it looks forward to working with Bangladesh's new government to strengthen strategic communication, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand practical cooperation and enhance coordination on multilateral affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing.