Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Beijing, China

The relations between China and Bangladesh date back to more than thousand years. The relations were fostered through centuries by thriving trade relations along the southern silk route. Records left by travelers, mostly monks and scholars, give us rich glimpses of these ancient relations and exchanges. Notable among such early travelers were Fa Xian (Fa Hien) in early 5^th century AD and Xuan Zang (Hue en Tsang) in 7^th century AD from China. The most notable monk or scholar from Bangladesh, who travelled to China in early days, was the reverend Atish Dipankar (11^th century AD). Later at the peak of Ming dynasty rule, Admiral Zheng called at the Chittagong port of Bengal with his legendary fleets. Some historians believe that the name of Chattogram port actually derived from “Xi Da Gang” (the great port in the west)–a name presumably given by Admiral Zheng He. Sultan Gyas Uddin Azam Shah is also recorded to have sent rich tributes to the Emperor of China. All these high-profile travels and exchanges suggest that envoy exchange, royal communications, interest of historians, trade and commerce and travel across land and sea flourished through the centuries between the two countries.

China recognized the independent Bangladesh on 31 August 1975. Even before that, China started speaking in favor of Bangladesh in international fora. On 10 June 1974, Mr. Zhuang Yan, then Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, gave a speech in support of Bangladesh’s membership to the UN. Finally, on 04 October 1975, Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh and China made a joint statement in New York establishing diplomatic relations of the two countries. Since then, both the countries share identical views on most international and regional issues and conduct close coordination with each other in the international arena. Both countries are prominent supporters of South-South cooperation.

Bangladesh-China relations are based on shared values, commonalities in core national objectives, and mutual respect. Both the countries strive to ensure peace and prosperity for their respective people through hard work and international collaboration with a spirit of mutual respect and shared destiny.

The relationship between Bangladesh and China is built upon a strong historical foundation. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman played a pivotal role in laying the foundation of Bangladesh-China relations. In January 1977, Major General Ziaur Rahman visited China in his capacity as Chief of Army Staff, marking an early high-level engagement that contributed to consolidating bilateral ties. During the visit, China expressed its support for Bangladesh’s efforts to safeguard national independence and sovereignty, reinforcing the political foundation of the relationship. In July 1980, President Ziaur Rahman visited China and held discussions with the Chinese leadership, thereby laying an important foundation for strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and China.

The year 2025 marked the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China and the ‘China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchanges’. The two countries have elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

The two countries have established the Foreign Office Consultations mechanism to consolidate the discussion and follow-up on the decisions taken at the highest level.