What happened?
China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh held the inaugural session of their trilateral meeting of foreign ministry officials on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Kunming, China. This marks China’s second such trilateral mechanism in India’s neighbourhood, following its foreign ministers’ mechanism with Pakistan and Afghanistan last month. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting, with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participating via video link in the first phase. Sun Weidong stated that cooperation among the three nations aligns with their common interests and can contribute to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity. The three sides exchanged views on trilateral cooperation and agreed to establish a working group for follow-up and implementation.
Why it matters to India
This trilateral meeting in India’s immediate neighbourhood, involving China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, carries significant geopolitical implications for India. It signals China’s expanding influence in South Asia and its strategic efforts to foster closer ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, potentially creating a new regional dynamic that could challenge India’s traditional standing. The emphasis on “regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity” in the context of Belt and Road cooperation suggests an attempt to create an alternative framework for regional engagement, potentially sidelining India’s own initiatives. India will need to closely monitor these developments and reassess its diplomatic and strategic approaches in the region to safeguard its interests and maintain its influence amidst these evolving alliances.