Bangladesh has urged China to expand investment in the country and intensify diplomatic efforts to help create conditions for the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the call on Wednesday during a farewell meeting with outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at Bangabhaban.
The president welcomed China's role in efforts to address the Rohingya crisis, saying Beijing's initiatives could help move forward a sustainable solution and facilitate the refugees' eventual return to Myanmar.
According to UNB, Alamgir also sought stronger Chinese investment in sectors including ready-made garments, electric vehicles, light engineering, high-tech electronics, semiconductors, and solar power as Dhaka looks to deepen economic cooperation with Beijing.
The two sides also discussed regional connectivity. Alamgir welcomed initiatives such as the proposed Kunming-Chattogram corridor and the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor, saying Bangladesh was ready to cooperate with China and other partners on projects of mutual interest.
He pointed to the modernization and expansion of Mongla Port and the China Economic and Industrial Zone as significant initiatives that could strengthen connectivity, support industrialization, and contribute to economic growth.
The president also asked China to maintain its technical and financial support for the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project and called for discussions on its implementation to continue.
During the meeting, Alamgir described China as a trusted friend and strategic partner of Bangladesh and expressed hope that bilateral relations would become stronger in the coming years.
He also thanked Beijing for financing and constructing the 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital. He sought Chinese expertise and technological support for treating complex blood cancer patients at the Combined Military Hospital, which is open to the public.
Ambassador Yao assured the president of China's cooperation in the medical field.
Yao, who is completing his tenure in Dhaka, said China would remain a trustworthy friend, neighbour and partner of Bangladesh and was ready to work with Dhaka to bring greater benefits to both countries and their peoples, according to the Chinese Embassy.
The ambassador also said bilateral ties had developed rapidly under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries and had been elevated to a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era.
Alamgir recalled former President Ziaur Rahman's visits to China in 1977 and 1980 and his own visit to China in April 2026, saying such exchanges had contributed to closer ties between the two countries.
He also reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to the one-China principle and said Dhaka wanted to pursue greater practical cooperation with Beijing.
The meeting was attended by the president's military secretary, secretary and press secretary, along with an additional secretary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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