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Malay Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Bangladesh ships first mangoes to China as ties with India sour
DHAKA, May 29 — Bangladesh waved off its first consignment of mangoes to China on Wednesday, a largely symbolic export as Beijing sweetens ties after relations soured between Dhaka and former ally and neighbour India. Bangladesh, still reeling from the political fallout of a 2024 uprising that ended the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina – who fled by helicopter to New Delhi – has since been courted by Beijing, India's rival. 'It is such a great pleasure to jointly witness this historic moment, as the first consignment of Bangladesh's premium mangoes sets off for China,' China's ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said, alongside government officials. Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy. Interim Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus's first state visit was to China, while Bangladesh has also moved closer to Pakistan, India's arch-enemy. 'President Xi Jinping has emphasised on several occasions that China's door of opening up will not close, but will only open wider,' Yao said, at a small ceremony at the airport alongside Bangladeshi ministers. 'I am confident that the export of Bangladeshi mangoes to China is just the beginning,' he added. In China, the fruit has a particular historic diplomatic resonance – including the curious cult of the mango. After Chairman Mao Zedong was pictured gifting a mango to a group of workers in 1968, during the mania of the Cultural Revolution, the fruit became an object of veneration. Those mangoes were reportedly a gift from the foreign minister of Pakistan -- and at that time, in 1968, Bangladesh had yet to win its independence from Islamabad. Export levels are small so far, just 50 tonnes in an initial phase, but both Bangladesh and China said they hoped to increase that. In the past year, China has sponsored several tours for Dhaka's political party leaders, and has begun hosting Bangladeshi patients in its hospitals. India has long been wary of China's growing regional clout and the world's two most populous countries compete for influence in South Asia, despite a recent diplomatic thaw. — AFP
Business Recorder
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Mango deal sweetens ties between Bangladesh and China
DHAKA: Bangladesh waved off its first consignment of mangoes to China on Wednesday, a largely symbolic export as Beijing sweetens ties after relations soured between Dhaka and former ally and neighbour India. Bangladesh, still reeling from the political fallout of a 2024 uprising that ended the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina — who fled by helicopter to New Delhi — has since been courted by Beijing, India's rival. 'It is such a great pleasure to jointly witness this historic moment, as the first consignment of Bangladesh's premium mangoes sets off for China,' China's ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said, alongside government officials. Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy. Interim Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus's first state visit was to China, while Bangladesh has also moved closer to Pakistan, India's arch-enemy. 'President Xi Jinping has emphasised on several occasions that China's door of opening up will not close, but will only open wider,' Yao said, at a small ceremony at the airport alongside Bangladeshi ministers. 'I am confident that the export of Bangladeshi mangoes to China is just the beginning,' he added. In China, the fruit has a particular historic diplomatic resonance — including the curious cult of the mango. After Chairman Mao Zedong was pictured gifting a mango to a group of workers in 1968, during the mania of the Cultural Revolution, the fruit became an object of veneration. Those mangoes were reportedly a gift from the foreign minister of Pakistan — and at that time, in 1968, Bangladesh had yet to win its independence from Islamabad. Export levels are small so far, just 50 tonnes in an initial phase, but both Bangladesh and China said they hoped to increase that. In the past year, China has sponsored several tours for Dhaka's political party leaders, and has begun hosting Bangladeshi patients in its hospitals.
Zawya
02-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Bangladesh secures $2.1bn in investments, loans and grants from China
Dhaka: Bangladesh has secured a commitment of USD 2.1 billion in Chinese investments, loans, and grants from the Chinese government and its companies during Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's "milestone" visit to China. Bangladeshi officials and the Chinese ambassador to Dhaka, Yao Wen, said nearly 30 Chinese companies have pledged to invest one billion dollars in the exclusive Chinese Industrial Economic Zone after the Chief Adviser urged private enterprises to invest in Bangladesh's manufacturing sector. China has also planned to lend some USD 400 million in the Mongla port modernisation project, some USD 350 million in the development of the China Industrial Economic Zone and another USD 150 million as technical assistance. The rest of the amount would come as grants and other forms of lending. "It is a milestone visit," Chinese envoy Yao Wen said, referring to the Chief Adviser's first four-day-long bilateral tour to China. Ashik Chowdhury, the Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority, said the visit could propel a "surge" of Chinese investment to Bangladesh. During the bilateral meeting, Professor Yunus has requested President Xi Jinping to give his "green signal" to Chinese private companies to invest in Bangladesh. Chowdhury said President Xi affirmed that he would encourage Chinese firms to relocate their manufacturing plants to Bangladesh as they look to diversify their production destinations. "This visit will play a big part in persuading many Chinese companies to invest in Bangladesh. It is just a matter of time," he said. On Friday, Professor Yunus and Ashik Chowdhury briefed officials of more than 100 Chinese companies, including some of the biggest in the world, to invest in manufacturing in Bangladesh, especially in advanced textiles, pharmaceuticals, light engineering and renewables. They spoke in three interactive sessions in Beijing. "So far, the response is very positive," he said. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
