Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday said the entry of Bangladeshi mangoes into the Chinese market will not only help expand the bilateral trade volume but reflects the "mutually beneficial and win-win essence of economic cooperation".
"I wish the mangoes a smooth journey to the tables of Chinese consumers and look forward to seeing even more high-quality Bangladeshi agricultural products to enter the Chinese market in the future," he said.
Ambassador Yao made the remarks at air shipment departure ceremony of the first consignment of Bangladeshi fresh mangoes to China.
Mango export to China begins Wednesday
Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian and Vice-Chairman and CEO, Export Promotion Bureau, Md. Anwar Hossain were present.
Grown in the fertile soils of the Ganges Delta, Bangladeshi mangoes represent green and high-quality agricultural products, said Ambassador Yao.
For Chinese consumers, it means more diversified choices in the vegetable basket, and will surely enhance people’s well-being, he mentioned.
For Bangladesh, the envoy said, the vast potential of the Chinese market will directly drive industrial upgrading in the mango sector, create more employment opportunities, and contribute to Bangladesh’s socio-economic development.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out on several occasions that China's door of opening up will not close, but will only open wider and wider.
"I am confident that the exportation of Bangladeshi mangoes to China is just a starting point. China has already initiated market access review for Bangladeshi guavas and jackfruits," said Ambassador Yao.
He said they are also discussing imports of raw animal hides from Bangladesh, and look forward to the export of Hilsa to China.
"I am confident that in the near future, an increasing number of high-quality Bangladeshi agricultural products will be stocked on the shelves of Chinese supermarkets, bringing more tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries," said the Ambassador.
At present, the international landscape remains volatile and unstable and the trade wars unilaterally initiated by the United States have severely disrupted the stability of the global economic order, the Ambassador observed.
"All countries, including China and Bangladesh, call for a peaceful world and a stable international environment," he said.
The envoy said China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to continue upholding mutual respect, mutual support, equality, and win-win cooperation.
"We will also strengthen coordination and collaboration within multilateral frameworks such as the WTO, and promote the integrated development of industrial and supply chains between our two countries," he said.
He expressed his satisfaction witnessing the "historic moment" as the first consignment of Bangladesh’s premium mangoes is setting off for China.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, he expressed his sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh for their extraordinary contributions and facilitation, which helped make this a reality.
The Ambassador said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus paid a successful visit to Beijing recently and the outcomes are beyond expectations.
"Today, the exportation of Bangladeshi mangoes to China marks a concrete step in implementing the outcomes," he said.