Over half a century hand in hand, toward an even brighter future
Celebrating the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China
As the Chinese saying goes, strong winds reveal the strength of the grass and fierce fire tests true gold — our relations have displayed vigorous vitality and a flourishing momentum, winning the unanimous support of all sectors of Bangladeshi society and its people.
October 1, 2026 marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On this joyous occasion, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude and high respect to friends from all walks of life who have long cared for and supported China's development and the China-Bangladesh friendship, and to extend festive greetings and best wishes to all Chinese compatriots in Bangladesh!
Seventy-seven years of weathering storms, seventy-seven years of forging ahead. Since the founding of the PRC, the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, have blazed a path of Chinese modernization suited to China's national conditions. Today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, the international situation is grave and complex, and destabilizing and uncertain factors are clearly on the rise. China has withstood the pressure and risen to the challenges: its economy has achieved steady progress with upgraded quality, new quality productive forces are developing at a faster pace, high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, new energy, and aerospace have reported one success after another, and society remains harmonious and stable. In the first half of this year, China's economy grew by 4.7 percent, maintaining sound development despite multiple shocks from international energy shortages and severe disruptions to industrial and supply chains, thus providing precious certainty to an uncertain world.
As the largest developing country and the Permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has always been a responsible major country, firmly safeguarding the UN-centered international system and actively advancing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, serving as an advocate and builder of world peace and a promoter of and contributor to global development, and contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. To walk with China is to walk with opportunity; to believe in China is to believe in tomorrow; to invest in China is to invest in the future.
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This year also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The CPC has grown to be the world's largest governing party with significant global influence. Enjoying the wholehearted support of the people, the CPC is the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Over the past 105 years, remaining true to its founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, the CPC has opened up the right path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and created two miracles: rapid economic growth and enduring social stability. That the CPC remains full of vigor after 105 years is attributable to its unwavering commitment to full and rigorous self-governance and its courage in self-reform, which keep it ever advanced and pure. A governing party with a strong capacity for self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal, and self-perfection is now uniting and leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in marching with high spirits toward the Second Centenary Goal.
This year also marks the 51st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Bangladesh, as well as the 10th anniversary of China-Bangladesh Belt and Road cooperation. Through half a century of shared weal and woe, China and Bangladesh have always been good neighbors, good friends, and good partners who respect and treat each other with sincerity. China supports the new Bangladeshi government in exercising governance, supports Bangladesh in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, opposes external interference, and supports Bangladesh in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs. This year, Hon'ble Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid his first visit to China, during which the leaders of the two countries reached a series of important understandings and elevated bilateral relations to a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era, injecting strong impetus into the long-term development of bilateral ties. Today, with deepening political mutual trust, fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and ever-warmer people-to-people exchanges, China-Bangladesh relations are at their best in history. Facts have proven that the China-Bangladesh friendship serves the fundamental interests of both countries and both peoples and conforms to the trend of the times; no storm can hold back the forward march of our relations.
Looking back fills me with deep emotion. I have served in Bangladesh for three years and nine months, and I will bid farewell to this post in a few days. These more than 1,300 days and nights have been the most fulfilling and unforgettable chapter of my diplomatic career. As I prepare to leave, my heart is filled with profound attachment and reluctance to part.
Over the past three years, I have personally witnessed Bangladesh's political transformation and the historic choices this nation has made at a critical juncture. I hold deep admiration for the remarkable resilience and national dignity demonstrated by the Bangladeshi people, who, under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, have embarked on a new path of reform and development. Although China-Bangladesh relations once faced headwinds, as the Chinese saying goes, strong winds reveal the strength of the grass and fierce fire tests true gold — our relations have displayed vigorous vitality and a flourishing momentum, winning the unanimous support of all sectors of Bangladeshi society and its people.
Over the past three years, I have walked through the streets and alleys of Dhaka and made field research to Chattogram, Sylhet, Rangpur, and beyond. Dhaka's traffic may be congested, yet the crowds on its streets always stride forward with bright eyes. What impressed me most is the optimism and drive of Bangladesh's young people. Whether on urban construction sites or along rural field paths, despite the hardships of their lives, their eyes shine with hope and their hearts carry the aspiration for a better life. Young people are a nation's most precious treasure and the very future of the country. I am fully confident in a bright tomorrow of Bangladesh.
Over the past three years, I have witnessed the rapid transformation of this land: viaducts rising one after another, roads connecting cities and villages, Dhaka's skyline constantly renewing itself, and mobile payment becoming part of daily life. Wherever I went, the warm greetings and sincere smiles made me feel the heartfelt friendship of the Bangladeshi people toward the Chinese people. As a diplomat, I am deeply gratified to have seen China-Bangladesh relations overcome difficulties and challenges and achieve steady, rapid, and forward-looking development, bringing hope, well-being, and convenience to our two peoples. Over the past three years, I have also made many Bangladeshi friends; those evenings of heartfelt conversations and days of walking side by side — this friendship I will treasure forever.
A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near. Departure is not an end, but a new beginning. Wherever I may be, my heart will remain closely tied to this land and to the cause of China-Bangladesh friendship. I firmly believe that the future of China-Bangladesh relations will be ever brighter and the road of our friendly cooperation ever wider. May the China-Bangladesh friendship remain evergreen forever! May both our countries enjoy prosperity and our peoples happiness and well-being!
China-Bangladesh cooperation
Trade
From 2010 to 2025, China has remained Bangladesh's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.
In the first half of 2026, bilateral trade reached a new high of US$12.8 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.6%.
High-quality Bangladeshi agricultural products, including fresh mangoes and jackfruits, have gained access to the Chinese market, while market access for Bangladeshi guavas and aromatic rice is currently being advanced.
The two sides are also implementing a joint action plan to enhance Bangladesh's export capacity, with a view to continuously optimizing the structure of bilateral trade.
Investment
As of June 2026, China's cumulative investment in Bangladesh had reached approximately US$3.6 billion.
In 2025, China's direct investment in Bangladesh increased by approximately 50% year on year.
Since the establishment of the new government, five Chinese-invested enterprises have cumulatively invested more than US$100 million in Bangladesh, creating nearly 20,000 jobs.
In July 2026, the China Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram was officially launched, with a focus on developing key industries including textiles and garments, machinery manufacturing, electronics and information technology, biomedicine, and green energy. The zone has attracted intended investments totaling US$500 million.
Project Cooperation
The Padma Bridge, constructed by a Chinese company, has been hailed as Bangladesh's "Bridge of Dreams."
It connects Dhaka with 21 districts in southwestern Bangladesh and is estimated to contribute 1.23 percentage points to annual GDP growth while reducing the poverty rate by 0.84 percentage points.
Chinese companies have also undertaken a number of power projects, including coal-fired, solar and wind power projects, with a combined installed capacity of more than 1,000 MW.
China-aided projects, including the Burn Unit at Chattogram Medical College Hospital and the renovation of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge-6, are currently under construction. Other projects, including the China-aided General Hospital, the Women's Hall of Residence at the University of Dhaka, the Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge-9, and the Emergency Management Center, are also progressing smoothly.
Healthcare
In recent years, China has provided Bangladesh with donations worth more than US$4 million, including dengue and COVID-19 testing kits, medicines and ventilators for burn treatment, robotic rehabilitation equipment, and flood relief supplies.
China has also supported the construction of a 1,000-bed general hospital and the China-Aid Project of the Burn Unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Standing together with Bangladesh in times of need, China has made concrete contributions to safeguarding the health and well-being of the Bangladeshi people.
Education
Around 50 Chinese and Bangladeshi universities have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation in joint research, faculty and student exchanges, and joint education and training programs.
China has established five Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Bangladesh, with nearly 100,000 Chinese-language learners and enthusiasts across the country. The Confucius Institute jointly established by Yunnan University and North South University, the first Confucius Institute in South Asia, celebrated its 20th anniversary, having trained more than 40,000 learners since its establishment. The Confucius Institute at the University of Dhaka marked its 10th anniversary and has established nine teaching centers across Dhaka, benefiting more than 1,000 students each year. Together, the two institutes have expanded their teaching centers to 18, with several thousand students enrolled on a regular basis.
