TDS Desk:

China will accept whatever decision Bangladesh takes on the proposed project to manage the Teesta river, its Ambassador in Dhaka Yao Wen says.

He also does not see any “tension” with India over the project, the envoy said at an event organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh or DCAB on Thursday to discuss Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming China visit.

China has proposed to fund the mega-plan for the conservation and management of the Teesta in the Bangladesh section amid India’s refusal to share the water of the common river.

A deal with China on the project is expected to be finalised during Hasina’s Beijing tour scheduled for Jul 8-11.

But during her recent visit to New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a joint press conference that the country would soon send a technical team to Bangladesh to discuss the conservation and management of the Teesta.

Hasina later said Bangladesh would choose either China’s or India’s proposal for the Teesta river rejuvenation and management mega-project, depending on which was most beneficial.

However, she noted that if India tackles the project, “then all the problems will be resolved”.

Some analysts think Bangladesh can engage both India and China in the project.

Former ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmed had told http://bdnews24.com/s Inside Out show: “As they [India] are not giving us water, or did not promise to do so, we will make a decision on our own to do whatever we want inside our territory.”

“If we see an opportunity, we can take India as a partner in the project since it is a very big one,” he said.

Ambassador Wen was asked at the DCAB event whether China would implement the project jointly with India.

“This can be decided by the Bangladesh side,” the ambassador replied.

“I can say we are ready, we are open. As long as we see it is conducive for Bangladesh, China is open.

“This opportunity [depends] on the Bangladesh side to make decisions on how to proceed to the next stage. China is open to whatever proposal [is made] by the Bangladesh side.”

Asked for comments on Bangladesh’s ties with India, Wen said: We want to see Bangladesh have good relations with neighbouring countries, with other countries. It is a success of your national foreign policy that [you have] friendship with all, malice towards none.”

“We want to see the true relations and also we want our relations to play a collective role and be viewed positively by the other countries. So that is [a] win-win cooperation and will benefit all parties.”

Wen also said that he did not see any tension over the Teesta issue and that China wanted the project to start “very soon” because almost 30 million Bangladeshi people need this project.

“So we just want to see if it can be started and completed very soon.” DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib presided over the event.