China has proposed a new economic corridor to Bangladesh via Myanmar, a move that could expand Beijing’s strategic presence near India’s eastern borders
Beijing: China has proposed a new economic corridor linking Yunnan province to Bangladesh through Myanmar, a move that could reshape regional connectivity and strengthen Beijing’s strategic presence in South Asia.
The proposal was discussed during Bangladeshi leader Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed support for deeper economic cooperation between the two countries.
The planned corridor is viewed as a reworked version of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, but without India’s participation. If implemented, it would connect Kunming in Yunnan with Bangladesh through Myanmar via an integrated road and rail network.
For Bangladesh, the project offers the prospect of increased trade, fresh Chinese investment and the modernisation of key ports, including Chattogram and Mongla. For China, the corridor would provide another route to the Bay of Bengal, reducing reliance on the Strait of Malacca while complementing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
However, the proposal faces significant hurdles, as major stretches of the planned route pass through conflict-affected regions of Myanmar, where ongoing civil unrest and security challenges could delay or disrupt infrastructure development.
The proposal is also expected to draw close attention in New Delhi. With China already accessing the Arabian Sea through CPEC, a corridor connecting Yunnan to Bangladesh via Myanmar could further expand Beijing’s strategic footprint around the Bay of Bengal and India’s eastern neighbourhood.
Although still at a preliminary stage, the proposal reflects China’s broader strategy of expanding regional connectivity, trade networks and maritime access across South Asia.
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