Amid India's concerns, China reaffirms support for Bangladesh's Teesta river project

China has reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh's Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), while responding to India's concerns by saying that bilateral cooperation between Beijing and Dhaka is not directed against any third country.

According to a report by NDTV, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China-Bangladesh cooperation should remain free from external interference and is focused on development.

"I would like to stress that China-Bangladesh cooperation does not target any third party and should be free from third-party influence," Guo said when asked about India's concerns over the project.

The remarks come as India closely monitors the proposed river management initiative, which involves the Teesta basin located near India's strategically important northeastern region.

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China calls project a development initiative

China described the Teesta project as an important livelihood initiative for Bangladesh and reiterated its willingness to support its implementation.

Guo said the restoration and comprehensive management of the Teesta River is a priority project for Bangladesh and that China is ready to provide assistance wherever possible.

He added that Beijing is prepared to deepen cooperation with Bangladesh in areas such as economic development, water conservation, trade and public welfare by aligning the development strategies of the two countries.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman also confirmed that experts from both countries will jointly carry out a technical feasibility study for the project for the first time.

India closely watching developments

The Teesta River project has attracted attention in New Delhi because of its proximity to the Siliguri Corridor. The narrow land corridor connects India's northeastern states with the rest of the country and is considered one of the country's most strategically sensitive regions.

Indian officials have expressed concerns that a greater Chinese presence in the Teesta basin could have long-term security implications because of the project's location near this critical corridor.

The proposed initiative is part of a broader agreement between China and Bangladesh to expand cooperation in river management and water resources.

Project gains momentum

The Teesta project has continued to move forward in recent months. In January this year, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Chinese state-owned POWERCHINA signed an extension to their existing MoU, paving the way for further technical work on the project.

While Bangladesh has maintained that the initiative is aimed at improving river management, flood control and livelihoods, India is expected to continue monitoring developments, particularly any expansion of Chinese involvement near its northeastern frontier.