Highlighting the success of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recently-concluded visit to China, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said on Saturday that Bangladesh’s relations with China have been elevated from a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” to a “Bangladesh-China community with a shared future”, the Daily Star reported.
“This is the highest step in terms of China’s bilateral engagement,” he told reporters at the foreign affairs ministry while outlining the achievements of the prime minister’s twin visits to Malaysia and China.
He said the photos and videos from the prime minister’s visits to Malaysia and China reflected Bangladesh’s growing importance and underscored the strengthening of Dhaka’s relations with Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, and senior officials of the foreign affairs ministry were present at the media briefing.
Adviser Humaiun Kobir said the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the party-to-party level to establish a formal partnership aimed at strengthening political cooperation.
Among the key achievements of the prime minister’s visit to China are the launch of a strategic dialogue at the foreign minister level and the exploration of a “2+2” dialogue mechanism covering diplomacy and defence.
“We have not taken any decision yet (regarding “2+2” dialogue mechanism). It’s still at the exploration stage...we will explore it,” said Khalilur while responding to a question.
The “2+2” dialogue mechanism, typically a high-level format involving the foreign and defence ministers of both countries, was once a signature diplomatic tool of Western nations but is now actively utilised by China to strengthen strategic partnerships. Beijing uses this framework to deepen regional security cooperation, safeguard political systems, and coordinate diplomatic responses to external pressures.
Bangladesh and China signed 17 bilateral instruments, including MoUs, agreements, a joint action plan, and an agricultural trade protocol, to further strengthen bilateral relations.
