‘China wants to be BD’s trusted friend’
Staff Reporter :
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to being a trustworthy friend, neighbour, and partner of Bangladesh, as both countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Foreign Adviser to Bangladesh’s Interim Government, Md Touhid Hossain, on the sidelines of 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday.
According to a Chinese news portal, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressed China’s support for Bangladesh in holding a smooth general election and pursuing a development path tailored to its national context.
Wang emphasised that China’s partnership with Bangladesh is rooted in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and a people-oriented approach.
“China has always adhered to promoting strategic cooperation with Bangladesh based on mutual respect and shared prosperity,” he stated.
Highlighting the ongoing 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Wang noted the milestone’s significance for both nations and reiterated China’s readiness to deepen collaboration.
“We are willing to work with Bangladesh and other South Asian countries to achieve modernization and contribute to Asia’s revitalisation,” he said.
Wang pointed out the mutually beneficial nature of China-Bangladesh cooperation, citing zero-tariff access for Bangladeshi products to the Chinese market.
In contrast, he criticised the United States for imposing a 35% tariff on Bangladeshi goods, despite the country’s status as a least developed nation, calling it “unreasonable and unethical.”
He also referenced the recent deputy foreign minister-level trilateral meeting among China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan held in Kunming, China, expressing hope for tangible outcomes through continued trilateral cooperation.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain expressed gratitude for China’s long-standing support. “China is a reliable and trustworthy partner.
The people of Bangladesh view deepening cooperation with China as a shared national goal,” he said.
Touhid reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to the one-China principle and expressed interest in expanding ties in trade, healthcare, and multilateral regional coordination.
He added that the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations provides a key opportunity to elevate ties to new heights.
Earlier at an event on China-Bangladesh Industrial and Supply Chain Cooperation and the Release Ceremony of Industry Reports in Dhaka on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen extended his country’s support to Bangladesh in the wake of US-imposed tariffs on several nations, including Bangladesh and China.
He described the US move as a “unilateral action” and called for collaborative efforts to safeguard national interests.
“China is also a victim of this policy,” said Yao, “So I believe we support all the measures taken to safeguard your own legitimate interests and to achieve just conditions for Bangladesh.”
Talking about the diplomatic relations, he also said, “As we mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, China is ready to take this Golden Jubilee as a new starting point to elevate our Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to new heights.”
Later in the afternoon the foreign Adviser met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand where both sides discussed possible means to expand bilateral relations, especially in the field of trade, including through trade diversification and resilience building. The Canadian Foreign Minister also expressed support in addressing the longstanding Rohingya crisis.