Bangladesh and China have agreed to deepen cooperation on the management of the Teesta and other rivers during a meeting between Bangladesh prime minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese water resources minister Li Guoying in Beijing on Thursday.According to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the two sides discussed strengthening collaboration on water resource management as Rahman continues his official visit to China.Rahman travelled to the Chinese city of Dalian from Kuala Lumpur on June 22 after attending the World Economic Forum in Malaysia, which marked his first overseas visit since assuming office earlier this year. He later travelled by high-speed train to Beijing on Wednesday and is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other senior Chinese leaders.During his meeting with Li, Rahman outlined Bangladesh’s ongoing river excavation programme, saying it is aimed at mitigating flood risks, protecting the environment and improving water resource management. He also sought China’s assistance in enhancing Bangladesh’s water management capabilities, reported news agency PTI.The Bangladeshi prime minister specifically requested Chinese technical support for the Teesta management project, according to the report.Li assured Bangladesh of China’s full support for its water resource management initiatives.The Chinese minister also referred to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2005 and the visit by Chinese water experts to Bangladesh last year. He said cooperation between Beijing and Dhaka in water resource management has been practical and based on research.Rahman further requested Chinese support in tackling riverbank erosion, modernising irrigation infrastructure and improving inland water transport across Bangladesh.Li said Bangladesh could draw on China’s expertise in water management and invited Bangladeshi officials and water experts to undergo training in China.The Teesta project remains a sensitive subject in India-Bangladesh relations, although ties have shown signs of improvement since Rahman’s government assumed office in February, replacing the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, a period during which relations between New Delhi and Dhaka had deteriorated.Last month, Bangladesh formally sought China’s involvement in the Teesta River restoration project during Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s visit to Beijing, according to BSS.The Teesta originates in the eastern Himalayas and flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it supports irrigation and the livelihoods of millions of people.China has long expressed interest in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, which is located close to India’s strategically significant Siliguri Corridor that links the country’s mainland with its northeastern states.Against this backdrop, India offered technical and conservation assistance for the Teesta basin in 2024 as part of its efforts to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh on transboundary river management.Water sharing continues to be a major issue between India and Bangladesh. The matter has gained added urgency as the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty, which governs dry-season water sharing between the two countries for a period of 30 years, is due to expire this year unless it is renewed.
