The Chinese government has said its potential involvement in the Teesta barrage project in Bangladesh “does not target any third party” and “does not want any third party interference” either.
Responding to a journalist from the Indian news agency PTI at a press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said his country is “ready” to back Bangladesh in the project.
This comes as the journalist from the Press Trust of India pointed out New Delhi’s “concerns” over the proposed project.
The PTI reporter said, “There are very serious concerns from India about the Teesta cooperation between China and Bangladesh, because it runs very close to the border and also India’s Northeast province as such.
“How does China view these concerns, and have they been discussed between the two leaders?” he questioned.
In reply, Jiakun said the comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation of the Teesta River is a livelihood project the Bangladeshi side attaches high importance to.
“China is ready to do what it can to support this project. I would like to stress that China-Bangladesh cooperation does not target any third party and should be free from third party influence.”
Before that, the spokesperson said Beijing is set to seek greater synergy in development strategies with Dhaka and step up exchange and cooperation especially in economy and trade, water conservancy and livelihood.
Bangladesh and China reached a consensus on expanding cooperation in integrated river management, with a particular focus on the Teesta River.
Dhaka formally sought Beijing’s technical and economic involvement in the long-discussed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.
The understanding emerged on Thursday during a meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
The meeting focused on river management involving the Teesta and other major rivers, alongside flood mitigation, environmental protection, riverbank erosion control, irrigation systems and inland navigation.
Amid widespread media coverage on Thursday, the PTI reported that the understanding on cooperation relating to the Teesta “may have implications for Dhaka-New Delhi ties given India’s sensitivity over the Teesta water-sharing issue”.