Dhaka: Bangladesh today launched its first-ever commercial mango export to China, a milestone that Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin described as a direct outcome of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s recent landmark visit to Beijing. Inaugurating the air shipment of the first consignment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Bashir noted that the mangoes are entering the Chinese market duty-free under a new trade facilitation framework, addressing the bilateral trade imbalance and boosting agricultural exports.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the initial shipment consists of 10 tonnes of fresh mangoes, while Bangladesh aims to export up to 100 tonnes to China this season. A freighter of Chinese carrier SF Express operated the flight carrying the mangoes, as confirmed by a Chinese embassy official.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, who joined the ceremony, hailed the shipment as a ‘concrete step’ in implementing the outcomes of the Chief Adviser’s successful visit to China earlier
this month. He emphasized that this reflects the deepening of bilateral trade and the mutually beneficial nature of China-Bangladesh economic cooperation. The ambassador added that China is ready to work with Bangladesh to uphold principles of mutual respect, support, and equality, while strengthening coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the WTO.
Ambassador Yao also confirmed that Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao will visit Dhaka later this month, leading a business delegation of more than 100 Chinese companies. This delegation is expected to be the largest-ever Chinese business mission to Bangladesh. Adviser Bashir echoed the significance of the upcoming visit, noting that several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed, paving the way for enhanced trade and investment flows between the two countries.
On the logistics side, Bashir, who is also civil aviation adviser, highlighted that Bangladesh’s export costs have already decreased by 15 to 40 percent due to increase
d utilization of the country’s airports for cargo handling, following recent infrastructural and policy reforms. The commencement of mango exports to China signals growing global recognition of Bangladesh’s agro-export potential and showcases the government’s broader diplomatic success in economic engagement with major partners.