Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Starts Three-Day Official Trip to China

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in China on 24 June 2026, traveling by high‑speed train from Dalian to Beijing. He was given a red‑carpet welcome at Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport and stayed at the Shangri‑La hotel. During the visit he attended the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos in Dalian, delivering a speech on “Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape” and meeting the forum’s president and CEO. He also held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Vice Governor Bai Ying and ambassadors, and scheduled a meeting with Kazakhstan’s prime minister in Beijing.

The trip aims to deepen economic cooperation, with Bangladeshi officials seeking expanded Chinese investment in health, education and technology. Analysts note that a core element of the agenda may be the procurement of up to 24 J‑10CE fighter jets and UAV technology from China, a deal valued at roughly $2.2 billion, which raises questions about Bangladesh’s commitments under its recent U.S. trade pact.

Earlier in the tour, Rahman spent 18 hours in Malaysia, where he received a red‑carpet reception from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The two leaders signed a 33‑point joint statement, focusing on reopening the labor market for Bangladeshi workers, cooperation on AI, cybersecurity and the digital economy, and agreed to accelerate a free‑trade agreement by 2027. A Bangladesh‑Malaysia Joint Business Council will be established to foster private‑sector collaboration.