Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On September 26, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh was held in Kunming, organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Provincial People's Government, the Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Foreign Friendship, and the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Kunming. Vice Chairman of the Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Liang Hui, Consul General of Bangladesh in Kunming, Muhammad Khaled, delivered speeches at the reception and addressed the gathering. Officials from the Consulates General of Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia in Kunming, relevant departments of the Yunnan Provincial Government, foreign affairs offices of cities and prefectures, related universities, hospitals, enterprises, media, as well as representatives from Bangladeshi companies in Yunnan, experts and scholars, and student representatives from Bangladesh, participated in the event, totaling approximately 100 people.

China and BangladeshBangladesh is a friendly neighboring country, and the ancient Silk Road has closely linked the two countries. The friendship between China and Bangladesh has a long history and is everlasting. On October 4, 1975, China and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations. Over the past 50 years, China and Bangladesh have always supported each other, treated each other equally, and achieved win-win cooperation. Yunnan Province is the forefront and the main province for China-Bangladesh friendly exchanges and cooperation. In recent years, there has been frequent personnel exchanges and interactions between the two countries, and economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges are thriving.

At the reception, Vice Chairman He Lianghui stated that Yunnan Province will implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and the leaders of Bangladesh, and will take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to work with Bangladesh to promote high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" initiative, continuously deepen policy communication, and improve the level of strategic alignment; continuously promote trade facilitation, better empower the economic development of both countries; continuously enhance people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual understanding and friendship among the people, and promote China-Bangladesh cooperation to a new level, better benefiting the people of both countries.

Ambassador Mohammed Khalid said that in the past five decades, Bangladesh and China have made a historic leap from establishing diplomatic relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Looking forward to the next five decades, we will strive to fully release the potential of cooperation and further consolidate this important relationship. The exchanges between Yunnan and Bangladesh have a long history, and it was an important hub of the ancient Silk Road. Not only are Yunnan and Bangladesh geographically adjacent, but also culturally connected. The mutual visits of high-level leaders between the two sides have injected new impetus into bilateral cooperation.

At the symposium, representatives from Yunnan and Bangladesh exchanged in-depth views on further strengthening exchanges and cooperation in trade and investment, education and research, medical and health services, and poverty alleviation in agriculture. Both sides agreed that China and Bangladesh are good neighbors, friends, and partners that respect each other and seek win-win cooperation. Yunnan Province has actively carried out friendly exchanges and cooperation with Bangladesh in various fields, making positive contributions to promoting the development of China-Bangladesh friendly relations. Standing at a new historical starting point, both sides are willing to continue to work together to deepen practical cooperation in various fields between Yunnan and Bangladesh, and to help the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Bangladesh reach new heights and achieve new progress.

Students from China and Bangladesh, from Kunming Medical University and Yunnan Nationalities University, jointly presented a wonderful cultural performance, showing the charm of the integration of Chinese and Bangladeshi cultures in artistic form, and the atmosphere on the spot was friendly and warm.