China congratulates Alamgir as Bangladesh deepens ties with Beijing

Beijing,UPDATED: Aug 21, 2026 18:30 IST

China on Friday congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on his election as Bangladesh's president and said it values its relationship with Dhaka. The message came a day after the 78-year-old leader was elected to the post.

The development comes as the Bangladesh ist Party government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has moved closer to China since coming to power in February after winning the general elections. Rahman visited Beijing in June for talks with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders.

Alamgir, the longtime secretary general of the ruling BNP and a close ally of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, was elected Bangladesh's president on Thursday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a media briefing, "China congratulates Alamgir on his election as the president of Bangladesh." He added, "China values its relations with Bangladesh, and stands ready to work with the Bangladeshi government to deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand exchanges and cooperation in various areas."

During Rahman's visit to Beijing in June, Xi voiced Beijing's support for the new Bangladeshi government, saying China was ready to work with Bangladesh on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and to further align development strategies. In his talks with Rahman, Xi also proposed an economic corridor linking Bangladesh, Myanmar and China to deepen regional connectivity and trade.

During the visit, the two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation on Teesta river management and other river projects. For India, the prospect of a deeper Chinese presence in northern Bangladesh is more sensitive because of the region's proximity to the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow land link connecting the northeastern states with the rest of the country.

China's congratulations to Alamgir came amid wider efforts by Beijing and Dhaka to deepen ties through Belt and Road cooperation, river projects and broader economic engagement.

With PTI Inputs

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