Dhaka, May 8:
Bangladesh has formally requested support from China for the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project during talks in Beijing between Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The project concerns the Teesta River, which flows through India’s Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, making it a sensitive issue in India-Bangladesh relations.
China expressed support for Bangladesh’s new government led by Tarique Rahman and said its regional ties were not directed against any third country, indirectly addressing Indian concerns.
India had earlier offered technical assistance for Teesta conservation because of the river’s proximity to the strategic Siliguri Corridor.
The talks also focused on economic cooperation, Chinese investment, the One-China policy and efforts to address the Rohingya refugee crisis through dialogue and repatriation initiatives.