Beijing pushes for a China-Pakistan-style economic corridor with Bangladesh and Myanmar

DHAKA: China said Thursday it is “determined” to build an economic corridor with Bangladesh and Myanmar, but remains open to “other countries” joining its “transnational initiative” – a project on India’s eastern flank that mirrors the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) strategic role on its western frontier.The corridor – discussed during Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China – proposes to strengthen connectivity, particularly multimodal transport links from China’s Kunming to Bangladeshi ports, including Mongla that Dhaka, after scrapping a deal with India, handed over to Beijing the contract to develop an economic zone. “Dhaka and Beijing have also agreed to explore a ‘2+2’ dialogue mechanism on diplomacy and defence”, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen told reporters.On the proposed corridor – which, if implemented, would give China access to the Bay of Bengal like CPEC does to the Arabian Sea – Yao said the idea of building such a project is not new. “There were discussions on a Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, but there was no progress,” he said, referring to an abandoned 1999 plan that proposed linking the nations through road, rail, water and air.“This (China-Bangladesh) cooperation is not the end of the game. We are open, and we welcome other countries if they are ready to join. But it is up to them to decide if they want to be part of it or whether they prefer to wait,” he said.Relations between China and Bangladesh have been on the upswing since 2024 – when Sheikh Hasina was ousted as PM – with both sides engaging in several crucial initiatives, including defence – some like Teesta river restoration project and reports of Chinese assistance in developing the Lalmonirhat airbase near India’s eastern border, a deal to establish a drone manufacturing and technology transfer plant in Dhaka, and the Mongla port contract drawing New Delhi’s attention.