China has proposed an economic corridor linking Bangladesh with China through Myanmar. The proposal emerged during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Mahdi Amin, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, disclosed the plan at a press conference at Beijing’s Diaoyutai Hotel following the meeting. China’s foreign ministry also referred to the proposal in a statement issued at the end of Rahman’s four-day visit.

Tarique Rahman left Dhaka on June 21 for visits to Malaysia and China. After completing his trip to Malaysia, he travelled to China on June 22. He returned to Bangladesh from Beijing on Friday night, concluding his first official overseas visit since taking office as prime minister in February.

Speaking at the press conference, Amin said Rahman and Xi had held detailed discussions on regional connectivity. “During the meeting, China proposed an economic corridor linking Bangladesh with China through Myanmar. The main objective of the corridor is to expand Bangladesh’s economy, increase transactions and further enhance multimodal transport,” he said.

China also expressed interest in modernising Chattogram Port, the PMO spokesperson said. “We want to explore how modernising the port could turn it into a regional hub that serves not only Bangladesh but other countries as well. China has also expressed interest in upgrading Mongla Port to make it more advanced and more service-oriented. We discussed those issues,” Amin said.

On the final day of his China visit, the prime minister held bilateral talks with the Chinese president at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday morning. Xi praised Rahman’s leadership and pledged China’s long-term support for Bangladesh’s development. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and other senior officials from both countries attended the meeting.

Briefing reporters on the talks, PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said the two sides had agreed to deepen people-to-people ties. “We want to strengthen links between the people of Bangladesh and China. We also want to expand cooperation in culture, media, technology, knowledge transfer and employment generation. Both sides discussed these areas,” he said.

Amin said Bangladesh had already begun giving greater priority to Mandarin as a third language in the education system, alongside technical and vocational education. China, he added, was willing to support Bangladesh in both areas by drawing on its own experience. “It will provide teachers and infrastructure support for Chinese language education,” he said.

China will also help simplify visa procedures, Amin said. “It has expressed interest in supporting Bangladesh’s efforts to develop a modern healthcare system, including through robotic surgery, hospital development and other areas. Many Bangladeshis travel abroad for medical treatment. China is willing to ease its visa process and make access easier for Bangladeshi patients.”

China also pledged support for resolving the Rohingya crisis, Amin said. “Bangladesh’s position on the Rohingya issue is very clear. We want their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation. If dialogue is needed to achieve that, China is willing to assist us.”

Amin said Bangladesh and China had, for the first time, reached an understanding on foreign and defence affairs. “Officials from the foreign and defence ministries of both countries will begin regular dialogue in the coming months. The details are now being worked out,” he said.

He added that China had welcomed Bangladesh’s interest in joining BRICS. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony also attended the press conference.

Rahman began the final day of his visit by laying a wreath at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square. He paid tribute to China’s fallen heroes at 9:15 am Beijing time. The national anthems of both countries were played, followed by a bugle call. After laying the wreath, the prime minister observed a brief silence in honour of China’s revolutionary heroes.

He later met Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, at the Great Hall of the People.

After his meeting with Xi, Rahman visited the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. The museum’s curator welcomed the Bangladeshi prime minister and guided him through the exhibits. Rahman toured the galleries with members of his delegation, watched an immersive audio-visual coaster show and signed the visitors’ book.

Accompanying the prime minister were his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman; Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman; Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon; Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee; advisers Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Humayun Kabir and Mahdi Amin; Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and other officials.

The prime minister returned to Bangladesh on Friday night after a six-day visit to China and Malaysia. Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony said the flight carrying the prime minister and his delegation landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 7:45 pm Bangladesh time. Several cabinet members, advisers, members of parliament and senior government officials were at the airport to receive him.