New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (June 26) told visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman that Beijing supports Dhaka in “rejecting foreign interference” and safeguarding its sovereignty, as the two countries upgraded bilateral ties and agreed to expand cooperation ranging from the Teesta River project to regional connectivity.During Rahman’s first visit to China since taking office in February, Beijing and Dhaka agreed to elevate their relationship to a “China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era”, establish new foreign and defence dialogue mechanisms, and deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.According to the Chinese readout of the meeting, Xi said China supports Bangladesh in “upholding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and rejecting foreign interference”.“No matter how the world changes, China will not waver in its commitment to the overall direction of China-Bangladesh friendly relations,” Xi said, describing China as “a trustworthy good friend, good neighbour and good partner” of Bangladesh.The joint communique issued after the visit said the two sides had agreed to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism between their foreign ministers and explore a “2+2” dialogue involving their foreign and defence ministries.Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China policy, recognising Taiwan as “an inalienable part” of China and opposing any form of “Taiwan independence”, while China reiterated its support for Bangladesh’s sovereignty and its choice of “an independent development path suited to its national conditions”.Among the concrete outcomes of the visit was China’s commitment to support Bangladesh’s Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.The joint communique said the two countries would deepen cooperation in integrated water resources management, hydrological forecasting, flood prevention, disaster reduction, river dredging and related technology sharing. It added that the Chinese side would provide support “within its capacity” to the Teesta project and support experts from both countries in expediting its feasibility study and related work.The wording stops short of a commitment to finance or implement the project.Bangladesh had formally sought China’s involvement in the project during new foreign minister Khalilur Rahman’s visit to Beijing earlier this year, in what was the first time the country’s elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government had made the request.The request came days after Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri had told visiting Bangladeshi journalists in New Delhi that India was ready to hold talks on the project with Dhaka.Connectivity also featured prominently during Xi and Rahman’s discussions.Xi has also proposed the establishment of an economic corridor linking Bangladesh, Myanmar and China, aimed at further deepening regional connectivity and trade.“Today, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had detailed discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on connectivity … A proposal came there on how an economic corridor could be established from Bangladesh to China via Myanmar,” Prothom Alo quoted Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin as having said.China’s official account of the meeting similarly said Beijing was prepared to “advance the development of the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor for greater regional connectivity”, while the joint communique stated that both countries would explore new options for regional connectivity, including direct connectivity between China and Bangladesh.The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, industrial and supply chains, investment, green energy, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, climate change, agriculture and healthcare. They also agreed to jointly advance the Mongla Port Facilities Modernisation and Expansion Project and the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram.On multilateral issues, China supported Bangladesh’s participation in BRICS and backed its application to become a partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The two countries also agreed to strengthen coordination at the United Nations and other multilateral forums, while China reiterated its support for facilitating dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.This article was updated with more information at 12:11 am on June 27.