Dhaka to host landmark BD-China Trade Confce June 1
Staff Reporter :
A daylong Bangladesh-China Conference on Investment and Trade is scheduled to be held on 1 June at Biniyog Bhaban (Investment Building) in Dhaka, aiming to boost bilateral economic cooperation.
The event is being jointly organised by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus is expected to inaugurate the conference as chief guest, while China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is also slated to attend.
According to organisers, around 250 investors and business leaders from 100 Chinese companies are set to participate in the conference. The delegation, unprecedented in scale, includes representatives from key sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and agro-processing.
Minister Wang is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka around noon on 31 May to attend the conference.
Throughout the day, Chinese and Bangladeshi business representatives will engage in five sector-specific matchmaking sessions, focusing on expanding bilateral trade and investment. These sessions will address opportunities in ready-made garments and textiles, ICT, agro-processing, electronics, and other priority industries.
Meanwhile, ahead of the conference, a high-level Chinese delegation led by Liu Jie, Deputy Director of the Lancang-Mekong Sub-regional Economic and Trade Development Centre under Yunnan Province’s Department of Commerce, held talks in Dhaka with Anwar Hossain, Vice-Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
The meeting aimed to deepen cross-border trade cooperation between Yunnan and Bangladesh and reflects China’s strategic interest in South Asia’s economic integration.
An official EPB press release outlined key discussions, including Bangladesh’s export capabilities, investment potential, and the need to narrow the bilateral trade gap, which remains tilted in China’s favour. Both parties expressed strong intent to rebalance trade flows and strengthen market engagement.
Notably, the Chinese side proposed free warehousing services and the establishment of a dedicated product showcase centre in Yunnan for Bangladeshi goods-an initiative expected to reduce market entry costs and boost visibility for Bangladeshi exporters in China’s vast consumer market.
These measures could have a significant economic impact. While China is Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner, the relationship is marred by a persistent trade deficit. Improved access and visibility for Bangladeshi products could help drive export diversification, stimulate job creation, and support growth in key sectors such as agriculture, textiles, chemicals, and agro-processing.
The Chinese delegation also pledged full support for Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming China-South Asia Expo, scheduled for 19-24 June 2025. This includes organising business matchmaking events to directly connect Bangladeshi exporters with Chinese buyers-a move that could lead to new trade agreements and enhanced foreign exchange earnings.
One of the most promising outcomes of the discussions was China’s commitment to facilitating market access for Bangladeshi fruits, a significant development for the country’s agribusiness sector. This could unlock lucrative opportunities for small and medium-scale producers, increase rural incomes, and reduce reliance on traditional export markets.
Also present at the meeting were EPB Director General Baby Rani Karmokar, Director (Policy) Abu Mukhles Alamgir Hossain, and representatives from the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA), Fresh Vegetables, Fruits and Allied Exporters Association, and the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).
This growing engagement reflects a strategic shift towards regional economic cooperation under the Lancang-Mekong framework, and highlights China’s expanding economic diplomacy in South Asia. If implemented effectively, these initiatives could usher in a new phase of trade diversification and industrial integration for Bangladesh.