On February 1,H.E. Mr. Yao Wen, the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh,published a signed article titled “Building on Past Achievements and Moving Towards a Shared Future Together— Opening a New Chapter in the China–Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership” in the “Chinese Stories from Chinese Ambassador” Column of the Daily Sun. The full text is as follows:
I. China and Bangladesh: Fifty Years of Standing Together Through Thick and Thin
Over the past five decades, China–Bangladesh relations have withstood the test of time and grown stronger through shared challenges and joint endeavors. Fifty years of steady cooperation have laid a solid foundation and delivered tangible benefits to both countries and peoples. China and Bangladesh are friendly neighbors bound by mutual understanding and trust. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have consistently upheld the principles of mutual respect, mutual support, equality and win-win cooperation, setting a fine example of friendly state-to-state relations, particularly among countries of the Global South.
On the political front, China and Bangladesh firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests. On the economic front, China has remained Bangladesh’s largest trading partner for consecutive years, with major cooperation projects progressing in an orderly and results-oriented manner. In people-to-people exchanges, cooperation in education, culture, youth and other fields has continued to expand, bringing the two peoples ever closer. These achievements fully demonstrate that China–Bangladesh friendship enjoys deep roots, broad support and a promising future, and accords with the fundamental interests of both nations.
II. A Developing and Progressing China and the Shared Opportunities it Offers
At present, China is steadily advancing toward the goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects. Understanding a real, multidimensional and comprehensive China is of great importance for further deepening bilateral cooperation. In 2025, China registered solid economic performance, with GDP growing by 5 percent and total economic output reaching 140 trillion yuan. Investment in high-tech industries expanded rapidly, and China contributed about 30 percent to global economic growth, providing much-needed certainty and development opportunities for the world economy, including for Bangladesh.
China is fully aware that it remains the world’s largest developing country and still faces challenges of unbalanced and insufficient development. China’s development experience, including in poverty reduction and industrialization, is not meant to provide a mode that fits all. Rather, as a member of the Global South, China stands ready to share experience with Bangladesh and other developing partners on an equal footing, engage in mutual learning, and jointly explore modernization paths suited to respective national conditions.
III. Advancing Hand in Hand on the New Journey
Looking ahead, China–Bangladesh relations stand at a new historical starting point. The year 2026 will be a pivotal one for both countries. Bangladesh will hold the 13th general election, while China will begin implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development. The votes cast by the Bangladeshi people will open a new chapter in the country’s history, and at the same time, China’s pursuit of high-quality development and the advancement of the 15th Five-Year Plan will also create broader space for bilateral cooperation.
China respects the Bangladeshi people’s independent choice of development path and follows a policy of good-neighborliness and friendship toward all Bangladeshi people. Guided by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China is ready to work with friends from all sectors in Bangladesh to better synergize development strategies. We will further expand practical cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture, the digital economy and green energy, strengthen coordination in regional and international affairs, deliver new benefits to the China–Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the peoples of both countries, and jointly maintain regional peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity.