In a move that signals deeper regional engagement, Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan have identified key areas for enhanced trilateral cooperation, with a strong focus on infrastructure development, connectivity, trade, investment, healthcare, agriculture, maritime affairs, information and communication technology (ICT), disaster preparedness, and climate change.
The understanding was reached during an informal trilateral meeting held on June 19 on the sidelines of the 9th China-South Asia Exposition and the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum in Kunming, Yunnan Province. The meeting brought together senior representatives from the three nations, each of whom emphasized the importance of collaboration rooted in mutual benefit, regional stability, and sustainable growth.
Bangladesh was represented by former Acting Foreign Secretary Md. Ruhul Alam Siddique, while Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Pakistani Additional Foreign Secretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui led the delegations from China and Pakistan, respectively.
According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three countries committed to advancing cooperation based on the principles of openness, inclusivity, good neighbourliness, and win-win outcomes.
Siddique underscored the potential for the three countries—already linked through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—to align their national development strategies with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasized that regional partnerships must prioritize delivering tangible improvements in the livelihoods of ordinary people, especially in a climate-vulnerable and densely populated region like South Asia.
The meeting explored the idea of institutionalizing trilateral exchanges and identified shared interests in regional peace, prosperity, and connectivity, particularly in light of evolving geopolitical dynamics and climate risks.
While China has long played a central role in regional infrastructure and investment under the BRI, Bangladesh and Pakistan both highlighted the importance of balanced development and equal access to opportunities for smaller South Asian states. Bangladesh, in particular, voiced the need for cooperation that respects regional sensitivities and sovereignty, while unlocking benefits for all stakeholders through people-centric development.
The discussions also touched upon maritime collaboration in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, as well as disaster response coordination in light of increasing climate threats such as floods, cyclones, and heatwaves. All sides agreed that regional cooperation in health systems, food security, and ICT innovation would play a critical role in post-pandemic recovery and climate resilience.
This trilateral initiative marks a potential shift toward more inclusive South-South cooperation, setting the stage for new mechanisms to foster peace and shared growth in South Asia, with China as a key partner.
Further dialogues are expected to follow, potentially laying the groundwork for a formal trilateral cooperation framework in the future.
BOB Post
