Chinese hydropower project on Yarlung Zangbo River won't affect downstream flow: Envoy

China has assured Bangladesh that its hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River is solely for electricity generation and will not affect water flow to downstream countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen conveyed the message during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain this morning, when he paid a call to the adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

"China will not withdraw or use any water from the project and the project will not affect downstream countries," the Chinese envoy noted, according to a media release.

The Yarlung Zangbo River, which originates in the Himalayas in Tibet and flows eastwards through the Tibetan Plateau, flows into Bangladesh through India. 

It enters India, where it is known as the Siang or Dihang River in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra River in Assam, and then the Jamuna River in Bangladesh.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. 

The Chinese envoy briefed the foreign adviser on follow-up actions stemming from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's recent visit to China, focusing on collaboration in trade, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, green energy, disaster management, and tourism.

Ambassador Yao also referred to the recent discussions between the Chinese foreign minister and the foreign adviser in Kuala Lumpur.

Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration and promoting people-to-people exchanges as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China this year, the statement said.