Diplomatic Correspondent :
Bangladesh marked a significant milestone in its agricultural trade and bilateral diplomacy by exporting its first commercial consignment of mangoes to China.
A total of three tonnes of premium-quality Himsagar mangoes were flown out from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, with hopes pinned on this golden fruit to not only conquer foreign taste buds but also strengthen economic and cultural relations between the two nations.
At the airport, the event was attended by Commerce Adviser Bashir Uddin, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Emdad Ullah Mian, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Export Promotion Bureau Anwar Hossain and high officials on Wednesday.
“As part of our efforts to expand trade, we are exporting mangoes today,” Adviser Bashir Uddin said. “Bangladesh has a significant trade imbalance with China. To help reduce this gap, the Chinese government has granted 100 percent duty-free access to Bangladeshi products. These mangoes will enter the Chinese market without any duties,” he said.
Currently, trade between Bangladesh and China stands at approximately $10 billion-Bangladesh imports goods worth $9 billion, while exports to China amount to one billion.
On the other hand, Ambassador Yao Wen said, “Today, the exportation of Bangladeshi mangoes to China marks a concrete step in implementing the outcomes following the successful visit of the Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to Beijing in March.”
“The entry of Bangladeshi mangoes into the Chinese market will not only help expand the bilateral trade volume and but improve trade imbalances, more importantly, it reflects the mutually beneficial and win-win essence of our economic cooperation,” he added.
Appreciating the green and high-quality Bangladeshi mangoes, he said, “For Chinese consumers, it means more diversified choices in the vegetable basket, and will surely enhance people’s well-being. For Bangladesh, 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.”
Citing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s assurance that China’s door to openness will “only open wider and wider,” the ambassador expressed optimism, saying, “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.”
About future export from Bangladesh, he said, “We 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.”
Pointing out the volatile international landscape, he said, “At present, the international landscape remains volatile and unstable. The trade wars unilaterally initiated by the United States have severely disrupted the stability of the global economic order. All countries, including China and Bangladesh, call for a peaceful world and a stable international environment.” “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 added.
This is the first time Bangladeshi mangoes are being exported to China on a commercial scale, following years of negotiations, lab assessments, and quality inspections by Chinese authorities.
The entry of Bangladesh’s mangoes into the massive Chinese market – the world’s second-largest economy – is being hailed as a milestone for the country’s fruit export industry.
Sources at the Chinese Embassy stated that China is expected to import approximately 100 tonnes of various mango varieties from Bangladesh this year.
Bangladesh’s trade with China has historically been heavily import-dominated, with a significant trade deficit. Officials and analysts view this mango export initiative as a step toward narrowing the trade gap through export diversification.
Beyond trade, this mango shipment carries deep symbolic significance. It represents a new form of cultural diplomacy rooted in shared taste and tradition. Mangoes are revered in both Bangladeshi and Chinese cultures – seen not just as food, but as symbols of prosperity, hospitality, and goodwill.
Interestingly, mango diplomacy has historic echoes in China. During the Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao Zedong once gifted mangoes to workers as a symbol of gratitude, which sparked an intense mango cult in 1968.
This inaugural shipment is being seen as a pilot consignment, and its reception in Chinese markets will determine the scale of future exports.
Chinese importer Sun Yulin told The New Nation that the first shipment of mangoes would arrive in Hunan province, the birthplace of Mao Zedong.
“Today, we exported three tonnes of mangoes to Hunan province on a trial basis,” Rabiul Islam, Assistant Manager of Meridian Agro Chattogram told The New Nation. “We will assess the market response and then explore the possibility of increasing the quantity in the coming days,” he added.
