China ready to work with India on Teesta project: Yao Wen

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said China is ready to collaborate with India on the Teesta River restoration project, if that is what Bangladesh wants.
Asked about China's response to Bangladesh's possible desire for joint collaboration with both China and India, the ambassador said, "China is open to anything that benefits Bangladesh. We are ready to consider any proposal Bangladesh makes in this regard."
The Chinese envoy made these comments during a press conference held on Thursday in Dhaka, where he interacted with members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB).
The ambassador made it clear that Bangladesh has the sovereign right to decide which country or countries will be involved in the Teesta River water management project.
China, he assured, will respect any decision made by Bangladesh.
"I understand the concern you all have about this," he said. "However, the Teesta River is located within Bangladesh. It is your river. The decision on how to manage it rests entirely with Bangladesh, and China will always respect that decision."
He said the project needs to start immediately to benefit over 30 million people who live along the Teesta River in Bangladesh.
In response to another question, he said a ceasefire in Myanmar is a must for the Rohingya repatriation. China, he added, is actively working with all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar to achieve a ceasefire.
Earlier at the programme, Ambassador Yao Wen addressed the audience, highlighting the "excellent" state of China-Bangladesh relations, which he described as a "strategic cooperative partnership" presenting "tremendous opportunities for development."
He noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to China will be a "landmark" visit in the history of bilateral relations, holding great significance for building upon past achievements and forging a path forward.
The ambassador described the upcoming visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Beijing as "a chance to inject fresh impetus into bilateral relations and cooperation across various fields".
This, he believes, will lead to new achievements in the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership of cooperation and elevate the relationship to a new level.
The ambassador noted that the international situation is now intertwined with turbulence and changes, as global development and security face intricate challenges. The world is undergoing profound transformations at an unprecedented pace.
"Against this backdrop," he said, "Prime Minister Hasina's visit is expected to set the course for the China-Bangladesh relationship over the next five years or more. It will establish a new blueprint for practical cooperation in various fields and provide an opportunity for both countries to coordinate their positions on regional and international affairs."
Mr Wen said he was confident that the visit will lead to further breakthroughs in practical cooperation, bringing more benefits to citizens of both nations.
He termed China's role as Bangladesh's most reliable partner and trustworthy friend.
He said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) closely aligns with Bangladesh's Vision 2041, the dream of "Golden Bengal", and the country's national development goals.
China, he said, remains Bangladesh's largest trading partner and the second-largest source of foreign investment. China's economic and trade cooperation with Bangladesh is free from political strings or demands for special privileges.
"Since Bangladesh joined the BRI," Ambassador Yao Wen said, "China has helped build seven railways, 12 highways, 21 bridges and 31 power plants in the country. Chinese companies have also created more than 550,000 jobs in Bangladesh."
The ambassador concluded by stating China's readiness to work with Bangladesh for further practical results in infrastructure, the digital economy, clean energy, agriculture, education, healthcare, cultural exchange and people-to-people connections.
This collaboration, he said, is meant to support Bangladesh's modernisation process.

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