"Friendship between China and Bangladesh..." The Dragon is wooing India's closest neighbor; Beijing is active as soon as Rahman arrives.:China, which had been waiting in the wings since Tariq Rahman became Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has become active.

News Topical, Digital Desk : China, which had been waiting in the wings since Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tariq Rahman became Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has become active. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang congratulated Tariq Rahman on Tuesday (February 17) and said Beijing is ready to work with Dhaka to strengthen mutual ties across all sectors, including BRI projects, to elevate their relationship to a new level.

What did the Chinese PM say?
In his message to Tarique Rahman, the Chinese Prime Minister stated that the Chinese government supports the smooth administration of the new Bangladeshi government, which was sworn in earlier in the day. He said that China stands ready to work with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister to further develop traditional friendship, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote exchanges and cooperation in all sectors.

Li Qiang further stated that this will elevate the China-Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to a new level and bring greater benefits to the people of both countries. He also noted that China and Bangladesh have a long history of friendly exchanges, mutual respect, and cooperation.

Following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's victory in the parliamentary elections held on February 12 , Rahman stated that he would prioritize Bangladesh's interests in building relations with other countries. Rahman was then quoted as saying that the interests of Bangladesh and its people would determine our foreign
policy.

Yunus's stance strains Dhaka-Delhi relations
Chinese state media highlighted Rahman's statement that China has long been considered an important development partner for Bangladesh and expressed hope that the two countries will continue to work together for common development. Apart from India and Pakistan, Rahman's government's policy towards China has also become important because interim government chief Muhammad Yunus, after assuming power in August 2024, attempted to formulate a pro-China and pro-Pakistan policy, which has had the worst impact on Dhaka's relations with India so far.