China to Remain Bangladesh’s ‘Trusted Friend’: Humayun Kabir
Published : 19:12, 26 June 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged that China will remain a “trusted friend” of Bangladesh in implementing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s development vision, reaffirming Beijing’s long-term commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
The pledge came during a bilateral meeting between President Xi and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday, the final day of the Bangladeshi premier’s official visit to China.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Diaoyutai State Guest House after the meeting, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said President Xi assured Bangladesh of China’s continued support for its development journey.
According to Kobir, Xi described Bangladesh-China relations as a long-term strategic partnership rather than a temporary engagement and expressed confidence that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit would further accelerate Bangladesh’s economic development and deepen bilateral cooperation.
He said China is ready to support Bangladesh’s development priorities, including economic transformation, regional connectivity, and stability. President Xi also praised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership and expressed confidence in his vision for the country's future.
Kobir added that China voiced its support for Bangladesh’s efforts to join BRICS, become a partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and advance its interests in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which could provide Bangladesh with greater access to regional markets.
During a separate meeting, Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, reaffirmed China’s support for Bangladesh’s development agenda under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership. The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in healthcare, education, skills development, vocational training, water-resource management, and river management.
The adviser also revealed that meetings between the prime minister and leading Chinese business executives could lead to several billion dollars in potential investment in Bangladesh. Discussions also covered concessional loans and grant assistance.
Despite a global decline in grant-based financing, China has pledged more than US$300 million in grants for Bangladesh, Kobir said.
Describing the visit as both “historic” and “transformative,” he said it marked the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladesh-China relations and further enhanced international recognition of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s development vision, leadership, and commitment to regional cooperation and stability.
