DHAKA, Sept 28: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today called for expanding bilateral trade, investment and development cooperation with China, reaffirming Bangladesh’s interest in deepening economic ties with its major development partner.
He made the remarks when outgoing Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen paid a farewell call on him at his office.
The meeting discussed various issues of mutual interest, including the Rohingya crisis, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said.
During the meeting, Yao Wen congratulated Tarique Rahman on his successful participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and his engagements in New York.
The Chinese envoy reaffirmed Beijing’s continued support for Bangladesh’s development efforts and expressed hope that relations between the two countries would be further strengthened.
The discussions also underscored the importance of continued cooperation on bilateral and regional issues, particularly trade, investment, development and the Rohingya crisis.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun were present at the meeting.
The outgoing ambassador was accompanied by Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Liu Yuyin.
China is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, with bilateral merchandise trade exceeding US$19.25 billion in FY2024-25. Bangladesh imported goods worth US$18.56 billion from China, while its exports stood at US$694.49 million, reflecting a substantial trade imbalance. China supplies more than a quarter of Bangladesh’s imports, including industrial machinery, textile raw materials, electrical equipment, chemicals and other essential manufacturing inputs.
The two countries have also expanded cooperation in infrastructure, energy, transport, defence and development projects.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2016 visit to Bangladesh, bilateral relations were elevated to a strategic cooperative partnership, while the two sides subsequently agreed to deepen cooperation across economic and diplomatic fields. In March 2025, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the partnership during the visit of Bangladesh’s then Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in this year to China.
The 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations was also observed in 2025.
