Dhaka, Beijing, and Islamabad talk trilateral cooperation

Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan have discussed a possible trilateral cooperation based on a shared vision for peace, prosperity and stability in the region.

Bangladesh foreign ministry in a statement last night said the three countries held an "informal trilateral meeting" on the sidelines of the 9th China-South Asia Exposition and the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation meeting in Kunming on June 19.

"The three sides exchanged views on possible trilateral cooperation on the basis of mutual trust, understanding and shared vision for peace, prosperity and stability in the region," it said.

Bangladesh's acting foreign secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, and Pakistani Additional Secretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting, while Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated via a video link.

The foreign ministry statement said the meeting identified several areas for deeper cooperation including infrastructure, connectivity, trade, investment, healthcare, agriculture, maritime affairs, ICT, disaster preparedness, and climate change.

The three sides agreed to forge cooperation on the principles of openness, inclusivity, good neighbourliness and win-win situation, it added.

Bangladesh acting foreign secretary mentioned that as partners of China's Belt and Road Initiative, the three nations could work together in aligning respective national visions with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

It is important to forge a robust partnership among the three friendly nations to deliver real benefits to their peoples and to improve their livelihoods, it said.

China and Pakistan issued separate statements on the meeting.

China's Sun Weidong in a statement said, "Bangladesh and Pakistan are both good neighbours, good friends, and good partners of China, and important partners in high quality belt and road cooperation."

All three countries face the mission of national revitalisation and modernisation, and all require a peaceful and stable environment, he added.

The cooperation among China, Pakistan and Bangladesh aligns with the common interests of the three peoples, and can contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity, said the Chinese foreign ministry statement.

The three sides, after exchanging views extensively, agreed to advance trilateral cooperation based on the principles of good-neighbourliness, equality and mutual trust, openness and inclusiveness, common development, and win-win cooperation, it added.

They also agreed to explore and implement cooperation projects in such areas as industry, trade, maritime affairs, water resources, climate change, agriculture, human resources, think tanks, health, education, and culture, it said.

The three sides will establish a working group to follow up and implement the understandings reached during the meeting, it added.

"The three sides emphasised that China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation adheres to true multilateralism and open regionalism, not directed at any third party," the statement said.

The statement released by Pakistan said Foreign Secretary Amna expressed her country's desire for a deeper engagement between China and South Asian countries.

She conveyed Pakistan's readiness to work with China and Bangladesh to enhance ties in trade and investment, agriculture, digital economy, environment protection, marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.