Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that China is highly interested in helping Bangladesh expand its export capacity and reduce the longstanding trade imbalance between the two countries.
He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a seminar titled “Long Live Bangladesh-China Friendship” at a hotel in Dhaka. The event was organized by the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association to strengthen the historic friendship, strategic partnership, and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking at the seminar, the minister said that today’s regional and global geopolitical landscape is increasingly driven by economic interests, making China one of the world’s most influential economic powers.
“China has emerged as a major engine of the global economy. As a result, Bangladesh’s trade and economic activities have become closely linked with China. This makes it essential for both countries to deepen their economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of the partnership, Swapan described China as one of Bangladesh’s most significant strategic economic partners due to its strong industrial and commercial capabilities.
He noted that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and China stands at approximately US$20 billion, with the vast majority consisting of imports from China. In contrast, Bangladesh’s exports to China remain below US$1 billion, creating a substantial trade gap.
According to the minister, the Chinese government has shown strong interest in increasing imports from Bangladesh to help narrow this imbalance.
He added that China’s willingness to expand trade opportunities aligns with Bangladesh’s economic priorities, making export growth and balanced trade a key pillar of the strategic relationship between the two countries.
Swapan said that regardless of differing interpretations of Bangladesh-China relations, the shared economic interests and mutual commitment to strengthening trade cooperation remain the foundation of the bilateral partnership.
