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Published : 26 Jun 2026, 05:01 PM
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged “long-term” support for Bangladesh's development, promising to back Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s economic vision.
The Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir shared details of the high-level meeting at a press conference held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Friday afternoon.
He said the Chinese president explicitly assured the premier during their talks at the Great Hall of the People that Beijing would remain a “trusted friend” to Dhaka, anchoring a permanent commitment to the nation's economic transformation.
"China will stand by [Tarique] in implementing his development vision," Xi said, according to Kobir.
Xi also praised Tarique's development thinking and expressed full confidence in his leadership, he said.
The Chinese president added that Tarique's visit would further accelerate Bangladesh's development.
According to the advisor, Beijing has backed Bangladesh’s aspirations to join BRICS (a coalition of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa for economic coordination) and become a partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The Chinese leadership also extended its backing for Dhaka’s interests in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to help the South Asian nation gain wider access to regional markets.
On investment, Kobir said meetings with Chinese businesses and industry representatives during the visit could yield several billion dollars in potential investment, with discussions also held on concessional loans and grants.
"Grant-based financing is shrinking globally, but China has committed more than $300 million in grants.”
Before meeting Xi, Tarique held talks with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, described by Advisor Kobir as China's third most influential leader.
Zhao reaffirmed China's support for Bangladesh's development and prosperity under Tarique's leadership and pledged continued cooperation across health, education, skills development, technical training, water resources and river management.
Zhao said Bangladesh and China working together could become a united force representing the interests and aspirations of the Global South, Kobir added.
The advisor called the overall visit "historic and transformative”.
"This visit has not only been historic but has ushered in a new era," he said. "It has made Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership, Bangladesh's development vision and his thinking on regional cooperation and stability more acceptable to world leaders."
