China has proposed the development of an economic corridor connecting Bangladesh, Myanmar and China to enhance regional connectivity, trade and economic cooperation.

The proposal came during talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday morning, said Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Mahdi Amin said the two leaders held detailed discussions on connectivity.

"President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman discussed connectivity in detail. A proposal was made on how an economic corridor could be developed linking Bangladesh, Myanmar and China," he said.

The PMO spokesperson said the proposed corridor aims to expand Bangladesh's economy, increase economic transactions and strengthen multimodal transportation across the region.

He said the initiative could create new opportunities for regional trade, investment and connectivity.

Mahdi Amin, also an adviser to the Prime Minister, said China also expressed interest in further modernising Chattogram Port.

"We want to work on modernising the port and transforming it into a regional hub that will serve not only Bangladesh but also other countries," he said.

At the same time, China expressed interest in upgrading Mongla Port and making it more progressive and service-oriented, the adviser said. “We discussed these issues during the meeting."

People-to-People Relations
Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh wants to strengthen people-to-people ties with China as part of the broader bilateral relationship.

"We want to enhance people-to-people relations through cooperation in culture, media, technology, knowledge transfer and employment generation," he said.

"There are areas relating to heritage, information and technology. In every sector, we want to deepen relations between the people of the two countries, and the two leaders discussed these issues," PMO spokesperson said.

He said Mandarin is already being prioritised as a third language in Bangladesh's education system, while technical and vocational education is also receiving greater emphasis. "In both areas, China is willing to support Bangladesh by sharing its own experience. China will provide teachers and infrastructural support for Chinese language education," he added.

Visa Processing for Medical Treatment
Mahdi Amin said China also expressed interest in supporting Bangladesh in the healthcare sector.

"They are interested in helping Bangladesh introduce advanced medical services, including robotic surgery, hospital establishment and other modern healthcare facilities," he said.

"Many Bangladeshis travel abroad for medical treatment. China is willing to facilitate easier visa processing and extend other support to those seeking treatment there," the PMO spokesperson added.

He said the two countries also discussed expanding cooperation in culture, media, technology, knowledge transfer and employment generation to further strengthen people-to-people relations. "There are areas relating to heritage, information and technology. In every field, we want to deepen people-to-people relations between the two countries, and the leaders of the two countries discussed these issues."

Rohingya Issue
Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh's position on the Rohingya issue remains clear. "We want the Rohingyas currently staying in Bangladesh to return to their homeland in a safe, voluntary and dignified manner," he said.
"China has assured us that whenever necessary, it will facilitate dialogue with Myanmar. We will move forward with discussions on voluntary and dignified repatriation, something that was previously achieved only during the tenures of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia," he said.

Foreign Affairs and Defence
The adviser said Bangladesh and China reached an understanding for the first time to launch a "2+2 dialogue" mechanism covering foreign affairs and defence.

"Representatives from the foreign and defence ministries of both countries will hold regular dialogues in the coming days. The details of this mechanism are now being worked out," he said.

Mahdi Amin said China reaffirmed its respect for Bangladesh's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

"China said it respects Bangladesh's democratic aspirations and supports an independent foreign policy that reflects the sovereignty of Bangladesh. Just as Bangladesh wants to remain independent and sovereign, China also wants to manage its affairs independently. This is a global value that we want to uphold," he added.

China Welcomes Bangladesh's BRICS Membership Bid
Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh and China also discussed cooperation in multilateral forums.

"Bangladesh has aspirations in different UN bodies and other international organisations. Recently, Bangladesh won an election to a UN body with China's support. China congratulated Bangladesh, and Bangladesh thanked China for its cooperation," he said, adding that when Bangladesh applies for BRICS membership, China will welcome that move.

The adviser said a total of 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Beijing.

He said 13 MoUs were signed following the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, while three others were signed between the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Chinese business organisations.
Another MoU was signed between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).