Chinese commerce minister meets Bangladeshi commerce adviser to deepen trade ties

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (left) signs Memorandums of Understanding on establishing a Trade Facilitation Working Group and advancing cooperation on e-commerce with Bangladeshi Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin in Dhaka on May 31, 2025. Photo: Ministry of Commerce of China

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Bangladeshi Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin in Dhaka on Saturday for in-depth discussions on enhancing China-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation.

Wang noted that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China and Bangladesh have consistently supported each other, treated one another as equals, and pursued mutually beneficial cooperation. 

China is ready to work with Bangladesh to implement the key economic and trade agreements reached by the two countries' leaders, advance the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and deepen cooperation in trade, e-commerce, industrial and supply chains, and investment, Wang said.

He added that China would assist in boosting Bangladesh's export capacity and promote the integrated development of trade and investment, while jointly upholding the multilateral trading system and contributing greater stability and certainty to the global economy.

Bashir said Bangladesh and China share a deep friendship, and China is one of Bangladesh's most important partners. He welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh and expressed readiness to deepen cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, and e-commerce. Bangladesh, he added, firmly supports free trade, adheres to WTO rules, and remains committed to inclusive global trade.

After the meeting, the two sides signed Memorandums of Understanding on establishing a Trade Facilitation Working Group and advancing cooperation on e-commerce.

In recent years, China-Bangladesh economic ties have grown significantly, with China remaining Bangladesh's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, as Xinhua News Agency reported.

On the evening of Wednesday, a shipment of three tons of mangoes from Bangladesh arrived at Changsha Airport. Customs officers at the port promptly inspected the shipment's labels, phytosanitary certificates, packaging, and fruit appearance. With no issues detected, the mangoes were cleared that night. This marked China's first-ever import of Bangladeshi mangoes, a new milestone in bilateral agricultural trade, Xinhua reported.

According to Luo Qi, a representative of the importing company, the mangoes are a geographical indication product from Bangladesh, known for their smooth texture, high sugar content of 18 to 22 percent, and a unique blend of floral and tropical aromas. The fruit will be distributed through domestic e-commerce platforms, supermarkets, and fresh food chains, as Xinhua reported.

Global Times