Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to make his debut on the international stage, where diplomacy is shaped by a complex interplay of national interests, geopolitical competition and strategic partnerships.
His back-to-back visits to Malaysia and China are expected to provide an early indication of how the new government intends to position Bangladesh in an increasingly competitive regional and global order.
The visits are being closely watched both at home and abroad. They are widely seen as an important test of the BNP-led government’s ability to rebuild and deepen ties with key development partners, many of whom had limited engagement with the party over the past two decades.
The tour also offers Tarique an opportunity to establish personal rapport with influential leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The outcomes of the meetings are expected to shape the future trajectory of Bangladesh’s political, economic and strategic cooperation with both countries.
Malaysia visit
Tarique will arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Anwar Ibrahim. A one-to-one meeting between the two leaders, followed by delegation-level talks, is scheduled for Monday.
The visit is considered significant as Malaysia was the first Southeast Asian Muslim-majority nation to recognise Bangladesh after its independence. Dhaka hopes to further strengthen bilateral ties based on mutual trust, shared interests and economic cooperation.
Key issues on the agenda include labour migration and human resources, trade and investment, technology and industrial cooperation, energy, agriculture, Asean and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as well as the Rohingya crisis.
At a curtain-raiser briefing on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said Bangladesh would urge Malaysia and other Asean members to play a more active role in facilitating the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Labour cooperation will also receive special attention, with Bangladesh seeking greater access for its workers while promoting skilled and professional employment opportunities in Malaysia.
Three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, alongside an exchange of notes on counterterrorism cooperation.
During the visit, Tarique is also scheduled to meet the chairmen of MMC Port, AirAsia and Petronas before departing for China on 22 June.
China visit
The prime minister will begin his China tour in Dalian, where he will attend the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions. On the sidelines, he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several heads of government.
He will also participate in a session titled Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape, alongside the Mongolian prime minister.
From Dalian, Tarique will travel to Beijing by high-speed rail.
In Beijing, he will meet senior executives of several leading Chinese companies, including China Railway Construction Corporation, China Road and Bridge Corporation, Chery Group, Handa Group, Chinatex Corporation and China Machinery Engineering Corporation. He will also attend the Bangladesh Investment Forum, organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).
Bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang are scheduled for June 25. At least 13 MoUs, two agreements and one protocol are expected to be signed. Bangladesh is also expected to join China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), one of President Xi Jinping’s flagship global initiatives.
The highlight of the visit will be the scheduled hour-long meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on June 26, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss the future direction of Bangladesh-China cooperation.
A test of diplomatic balance
The China visit is attracting significant international attention as major powers closely observe the foreign policy direction of Bangladesh’s new government.
Just before the prime minister’s departure, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen met Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman. After the meeting, the ambassador told journalists: “I was here to encourage the foreign minister and all Bangladeshis to support the United States in the World Cup going forward, because you can never go wrong in the long run by betting on the United States.”
While the remark was made in the context of the World Cup, diplomats note that such comments often carry broader strategic undertones. As Bangladesh deepens engagement with China while maintaining close ties with the United States and other partners, the government’s diplomatic maturity will be judged by its ability to avoid choosing sides and instead pursue a balanced, interest-based foreign policy.
For Dhaka, the challenge is not to “bet” on any single power, but to engage constructively with all major partners. The success of the Malaysia and China visits will therefore be measured not only by the agreements signed, but also by the government’s ability to demonstrate strategic autonomy, diplomatic pragmatism and a clear focus on Bangladesh’s national interests in an increasingly polarised world.
