China is open to other countries, including India, joining the proposed China-Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CBMEC), Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said yesterday.
“China remains determined to proceed with Bangladesh and Myanmar to build this economic corridor. We are open to other countries joining it if they are ready. But it is up to them to decide,” he said in reply to a question whether India can be a part of the corridor. The envoy said this while sharing the outcome of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s June 22-26 visit to China.
During the visit, the prime minister met Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Qiang, leaders of the Communist Party of China and leading business executives.
The two countries signed 17 MoUs and agreements covering trade, investment and education, and elevated bilateral ties to a “China-Bangladesh Community of Shared Future in the New Era”. They also discussed the proposed CBMEC, deeper defence cooperation and Chinese support for river management, including the Teesta.
Apart from regional economic cooperation, Yao linked the CBMEC to broader regional stability.
“The corridor and the Rohingya issue are interrelated, and the corridor may actually provide more impetus for repatriation,” he said.
Referring to the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, Yao said the initiative, which included India, was proposed more than a decade ago but largely stalled due to geopolitical concerns and India’s reluctance to move forward.
‘2+2’ DIALOGUE
Yao said Dhaka and Beijing agreed to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism between their foreign ministers and explore a “2+2” dialogue mechanism involving diplomacy and defence.
“These arrangements will provide a stronger and more stable platform for strategic communication between our two countries,” he said.
Yao said the two countries already maintain extensive defence cooperation, and the new mechanism would help strengthen mutual trust.
China has similar arrangements with several Asean countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as Pakistan.
The ambassador, however, declined to comment directly on reports that Bangladesh was considering buying Chinese J-10C fighter jets.
“As our relations elevate to a ‘Community of Shared Future,’ we expect more cooperation across all areas, including defence,” he said.
TEESTA PROJECT
Yao said China was also moving ahead with government-to-government cooperation on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.
Calling it a livelihood project affecting more than 10 million people, he said the immediate priority was a sound, scientific feasibility study by leading experts from Bangladesh and China.
He said it was Bangladesh’s project and China was providing assistance at Dhaka’s request.
The ambassador also reiterated China’s opposition to foreign interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs while expressing Beijing’s commitment to working with Dhaka in international forums to uphold the UN Charter.
The Chinese envoy said more than 30 Chinese companies had committed about $500 million to the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anwara, Chattogram, since the current government assumed office.
Yao also referred to recent remarks by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Ashik Chowdhury that 12 Chinese companies were planning to invest more than $9.2 billion in Bangladesh, calling it a positive signal of growing Chinese business interest.
