China-Bangladesh relations
Chinese Ambassador outlines vision for deeper ties ahead of 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said China is ready to work with Bangladesh to expand new cooperation in a wider range of areas.
He mentioned higher levels of connectivity, renewable energy, the Blue Economy, financial stability, digital empowerment, scientific and technological innovation, agriculture and food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development as areas of cooperation.
"With joint efforts, we will achieve common development and promote together the building of a community with a shared future for mankind," said Ambassador Yao in an article.
The Ambassador said the two nations are set to embrace a historic opportunity to further elevate bilateral relations and friendly cooperation in various fields by 2025, the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
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Over the past 52 years since its independence, Bangladesh has always been committed to exploring the path of modernization in line with its own national conditions, and has made commendable achievements, he said.
The Ambassador said China hopes that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the new Bangladeshi government will lead the people to proceed faster and steadier on the path of national prosperity and rejuvenation.
On January 11, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier of State Council Li Qiang sent congratulatory messages to Sheikh Hasina on her reelection as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
The Chinese leaders expected that the two countries would make joint efforts to further implement the important consensus President Xi Jinping reached with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Johannesburg, South Africa last August, enhance political mutual trust, promote traditional friendship, further synergize development strategies, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to uplift the China-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership of Cooperation to a new height.
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China and Bangladesh are both developing and populous countries at a critical stage of their respective development and revitalisation, said the Ambassador.
China calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world, forging a broader international consensus, proposing more effective solutions and enhancing the practicality and guidance for building a community with a shared future for humankind.
"We advocate that the multipolar world should be equal, that is, to insist on the equality of all countries, oppose hegemony and power politics, oppose the monopoly of a few countries in international affairs, and effectively promote the democratisation of international relations," he said.
International issues should be resolved through consultation among all countries, and the future and destiny of the world should be in the hands of all countries.
Building a community with a shared future for humankind underscores the general trend of history and the direction of the people’s hearts, he said.
“More and more countries have come to realize that the future of the world should be jointly controlled by all countries, and created by all of us hand in hand,” said the Ambassador.
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Future of Bangladesh should be determined by Bangladeshis: Ambassador Yao reiterates China’s non-intervention policy
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has reiterated his country’s non-intervention policy and said the future of Bangladesh should be determined by Bangladeshis.
“Our policy is very consistent – that China never intervenes in any country’s internal affairs,” he told UNB in an exclusive interview.
Ambassador Yao said the upcoming election is an internal affair of Bangladesh.
China upholds Bangladesh’s efforts to fend off external interference and maintain domestic unity and stability, so as to ensure development and revitalization, said the ambassador referring to what the Chinese President Xi Jinping said during the Johannesburg meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, he elaborated referring to what President Xi said at the Johannesburg meeting.
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“China is full of confidence over the better future of Bangladesh as well as China-Bangladesh relations,” said Ambassador Yao.
Currently, over 600 Chinese enterprises are functioning in Bangladesh, and tens of thousands of Chinese citizens are living and working here, he said.
According to Ambassador Yao, the Chinese companies proactively undertake social responsibilities on boosting local economy, protecting the environment, providing social services to host communities, helping create job opportunities, building capacity for manpower and promoting charity.
“With their contribution and efforts, the hearts of the two peoples are brought together ever closer,” he said.
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When asked about the interests of Chinese companies and citizens in the context of heated political environment, Yao replied that the Chinese people are here for friendship and joint development with Bangladeshi people.
“Their safety and security should surely be guaranteed, and their lawful interests should be protected,” he said.
Bangladesh Election Commission is taking preparations for the next national election which is likely to be held in December this year or January next year.
During his first interview since his arrival in Dhaka late last year, the Chinese ambassador touched upon issues related to trade and investment, Global Development Initiative, Belt and Road Initiative, people to people relations, and opportunities ahead.
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China hopes Bangladesh would make good use of preferential loans, GDI and South-South Cooperation Fund: Ambassador Yao
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, has said the Global Development Initiative (GDI), a twin sister of BRI, is aimed at supporting the timely achievement of all 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by revitalizing global development partnership and promoting stronger, greener and healthier global development.
“We hope that Bangladesh would make good use of China’s aid, preferential loans, and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to actively carry out policy dialogue, experience sharing, capacity building and practical cooperation,” the envoy told UNB during his first interview since his arrival here late last year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward GDI at the United Nations in 2021.
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The Global Development Initiative promotes international cooperation in eight priority areas, namely poverty alleviation, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity in the digital-era, said the ambassador.
“All these are also the focus of Bangladesh in its Vision 2041 perspective plan,” he said.
According to the United Nations, over 100 countries and international organizations have expressed their support to the GDI and 68 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI at the UN.
In July, the first high-level meeting of the Global Action Forum for Shared Development was held in Beijing, with more than 800 guests from 158 countries and international organizations attending online and offline.
Minister of Planning MA Mannan took part in the event on behalf of Bangladesh.
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Priorities Ahead
Bangladesh and China will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025.
“It would be a perfect occasion to review achievements in the past and map forward for the future,” the ambassador said.
He promised that China would do its part to help Bangladesh graduate from the LDC status by 2026, and fuel joint development to achieve respective national dreams which are “well-connected”.
“Practical cooperation is the cornerstone of China-Bangladesh relations. While implementing projects agreed during high-level visits back in 2016 and 2019, we will take the initiative with Bangladesh to figure out more under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative on connectivity infrastructure, renewable energy, blue economy, digital empowerment, so on and so forth,” said the Chinese envoy.
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In terms of trade, he said, local exporters are encouraged to fully leverage China’s 98 percent zero-tariff treatment for Bangladeshi products and showcase the “Made in Bangladesh” brand on expositions held in China, such as China International Import Expo, China-South Asia Expo and Canton Fair.
The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram should eye high-end and high-value industries to serve the Smart Bangladesh development strategy as well as the high-quality development paradigm of China, he said.
“We’d encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to increase investment in promising fields like new energy, ICT, advanced manufacturing, and agri-product processing,” Ambassador Yao said, adding that he would also push forward the cooperation on disaster management and relief, military exchanges, law enforcement coordination and maritime cooperation during his tenure in Dhaka.
“Of course, as the Chinese ambassador, I’d play my role in mediating between Bangladesh and Myanmar to facilitate early and sustainable repatriation of displaced people from the Rakhine State,” he said.
Producing Green Energy
Responding to a question, the envoy said China, a key contributor to the Paris Agreement, pledged to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
“By 2035, China will broadly establish eco-friendly ways of work and life, lower carbon emissions after reaching a peak, improve the environment and largely accomplish the goal of developing a ‘Beautiful China’,” he added.
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Bangladesh also faces critical challenges of environmental degradation and climate change.
“Fortunately, the country has become well aware of the gravity of these issues, and has taken plausible actions,” the Chinese envoy said, noting that the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP) adopted in 2020 plays a key role in guiding the country’s development paradigm into the track of green transition by 2030.
“As Bangladesh and China converge on environmental goals, significant potentials emerge for the two countries to synergize on green development strategies, thereby building a shared human community in harmony with nature,” said Ambassador Yao.
“In fact, we’ve already kickstarted cooperation in this regard. When I visited Cox’s Bazar a few months ago, I saw photovoltaic panels of Chinese brand on top of many roofs. A wind farm project is also being built there by Chinese contractors,” he added.
Next Generation of Green Traffic
It was reported that Bangladesh had its first electric vehicle (EV) charging station installed in Dhaka earlier this month.
“I read it in the newspaper. But there are only 35 EV registered in Bangladesh for the time being. That is a negligible amount compared to the 170 million population of Bangladesh,” he said.
China is a key designer and manufacturer of EV. There are over 16 million EV and mixed-fuel vehicles running on the roads in China, and the number is still soaring.
“We would encourage more Chinese EV manufacturers to come to Bangladesh, explore the local market, and meet the demands of Bangladeshi people, thereby helping Bangladesh transit towards the next generation of green traffic,” said the ambassador.
Beijing to work with Dhaka to explore more from strategic partnership
Chinese President Xi Jinping has said he is willing to work with Bangladesh to further connect their development strategies, deepen practical cooperation across the board, and strive for new outcomes from the Bangladesh-China Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.
“China and Bangladesh are close neighbours and traditional friends. In recent years, China-Bangladesh relations enjoy a sound momentum of development, with strategic mutual trust being strengthened and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative pressing ahead,” he said in a message to his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh, the Chinese President, on behalf of the government and people of China and in his own name, extended his sincere congratulations and best wishes to President Hamid and the friendly people of Bangladesh.
Over the past five decades, President Xi said, the diligent and self-reliant people of Bangladesh have made remarkable progress in social and economic development, which has improved the living standard in the country, contributing an important share to the cause of global poverty elimination.
“Our traditional friendship has been elevated to a new height in our joint efforts to fight COVID-19,” said the Chinese President.
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“I wish Bangladesh great prosperity and her people happiness,” reads the message shared by the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday night.
In a separate message to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Bangladesh-China relations are on a fast lane of development, with cooperation in all areas proceeding steadily.
Facing the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, the two countries have been on the same boat and lent each other helping hands, further deepening the traditional friendship.
“The Chinese side sets great store by China-Bangladesh relations, and is willing to further accelerate the pace of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to bring more benefits to our two countries and peoples,” said the Chinese Premier.
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On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh, he, on behalf of the government of China, extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to Prime Minister Hasina and to the friendly people of Bangladesh.
“In recent years, under your (Hasina) leadership, the people of Bangladesh have been focusing on reform and development, and have achieved encouraging progress in building the country and improving people's livelihood,” said the Chinese Premier.
As a friendly neighbour and partner, he said, China rejoices at the achievements of Bangladesh. “I wish Bangladesh great prosperity and her people happiness.”
State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi also sent a message to his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen.
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“I’m ready to work with you to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of our two countries, promote pragmatic cooperation between our two counties across the board to achieve new results, strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs and bring benefits to the two countries and two peoples,” said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
In recent years, he said, Bangladesh has sustained a sound momentum of social-economic development, with the living standard of her people improved significantly, and has played a contributing role for regional stability and prosperity.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence Bangladesh, the Chinese Foreign Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Dr Momen. “I wish Bangladesh great prosperity and its people happiness.”
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