Kunming:Bangladesh and China's Yunnan Province have reached an agreement to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, and connectivity. The focus will be on expanding market access for Bangladeshi products in China.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the agreement was made during a meeting between Bangladesh Consul General in Kunming, Shahanaz Ranu, and Li Chaowei, Director General of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce. The discussions emphasized implementing agreements and memorandums of understanding signed during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to China in June.
The consul general expressed gratitude for Yunnan's support in Bangladesh's participation as the Theme Country at the 10th China-South Asia Expo and hoped for continued cooperation. Li Chaowei highlighted the potential for Bangladesh's textile and jute industries and expressed interest in using the expo as a platform for Bangladeshi products in China.
Both parties discussed the establishment of a Bangladesh Pavilion and a bonded warehouse in Kunming under the "Three Frees and Three Facilitations" policy. The consul general mentioned that the pavilion's location was finalized on September 7, 2026, and expressed interest in launching it soon.
Li indicated that the department's cross-border e-commerce division would help promote Bangladeshi products on Chinese platforms. He referenced the Bangladesh commerce minister's visit to Yunnan in June, which focused on energy-sector cooperation.
Agricultural cooperation was also a key topic, with the consul general urging the implementation of the mango export protocol and seeking opportunities for exporting other agricultural products like guavas. She stressed the significance of agriculture for Bangladesh's economy.
Shahanaz highlighted Yunnan's progress in economic development and renewable energy, inviting Yunnan companies to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh. Li suggested encouraging Yunnan's renewable energy companies to visit Bangladesh for potential collaboration.
Connectivity was another major discussion point. Shahanaz noted that only one airline currently operates direct flights between Kunming and Dhaka, expressing a desire for more airlines to establish services on this route. She also mentioned the agreement between Prime Minister Rahman and Chinese President Xi Jinping on creating a connectivity corridor and showed interest in enhancing direct connectivity with Yunnan.
The meeting concluded with the consul general welcoming Yunnan-based companies' participation in the upcoming Global Sourcing Expo in Dhaka and inviting them to partake in other expos organized by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. The meeting was attended by various officials from the Bangladesh Consulate General and the Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce.