China ignores India’s concerns over Teesta project, assures Bangladesh of cooperation

China has responded to India’s concerns over the Teesta River Integrated Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP). Beijing has said that any cooperation between Bangladesh and China is not aimed at a third party and there should be no interference or influence from any outside country. At the same time, the country has assured Bangladesh of maximum cooperation in implementing the Teesta project.
This information was reported by Indian media NDTV. According to the report, when asked about India’s concerns over the Teesta project at a regular press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiaqun said, “I would like to emphasize that Bangladesh-China cooperation is not aimed at a third party. At the same time, this cooperation should be free from third party influence.”
Indian media claim that New Delhi has strategic concerns about this joint initiative between Dhaka and Beijing, as the Teesta basin is close to the northeastern region of India. In this context, Guo Jiaqun said that the integrated management and restoration of the Teesta River is an important public welfare project related to the quality of life of the people of Bangladesh.
China is ready to cooperate to the best of its ability in this project. He also said that China is willing to strengthen the coordination of development strategies with Bangladesh and further enhance cooperation and mutual exchanges in trade, water management, public welfare and other important sectors.
Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman said that Bangladesh and Chinese experts will conduct a joint technical feasibility study on the Teesta project for the first time. He said that the two countries have agreed in principle on this issue, which has never been done before. If the feasibility study proves the project to be realistic and reasonable, China will provide maximum cooperation.
Bangladesh and China have basically reached an agreement to increase cooperation in the management of various rivers in Bangladesh, including the Teesta River. However, India is believed to be closely monitoring any progress related to the Teesta project. In January this year, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and China’s state-owned company PowerChina signed an agreement to expand the Memorandum of Understanding on the Teesta project. As a result, the project implementation process has moved a step further.
Analysts say one of India’s concerns is that the Teesta River is located very close to the strategically important Siliguri Corridor. This corridor, known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, is the only land connection between the northeast and the Indian mainland. India fears that the growing presence of China or the influence of any other external power in the region could create new challenges to the country’s security and strategic interests.