FBCCI and Chinese Ambassador Discuss Trade Expansion in Dhaka

A courtesy meeting and high-level trade discussion took place in Dhaka between the administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Md. Fazlul Haque, and the ambassador of China to Bangladesh, Yao Wen. The official gathering, held on August 26, centered on exploring avenues to further expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

During the discussions, official trade statistics highlighted a significant trade deficit between the two nations for the 2024-25 fiscal year. According to the confirmed data, Bangladesh exported approximately 694 million dollars worth of goods to China during this period. In stark contrast, Bangladesh imported nearly 18.19 billion dollars worth of products from China, illustrating that imports from China were roughly 26 times higher than Bangladesh's exports to the country.

Addressing the massive trade gap and the need for stronger economic ties, FBCCI Administrator Md. Fazlul Haque emphasized the importance of private sector engagement. He stated that to further increase trade and investment between Bangladesh and China, effective communication and coordination between the private sectors of both countries are required. To achieve this, he noted that it is necessary to further strengthen the institutional relationship among the FBCCI, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB).

Responding to the proposals, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen expressed his country's strong commitment to the bilateral economic partnership. He stated that the Chinese embassy is sincerely prepared to work toward taking the bilateral commercial relationship between Bangladesh and China to new heights. Furthermore, during the meeting, the Chinese ambassador highlighted several promising sectors with high potential for the expansion of trade and investment within Bangladesh.

The meeting concluded with both sides acknowledging the vast potential for future economic collaboration. By reinforcing institutional frameworks and fostering closer ties among business councils such as CCPIT and CEAB alongside the FBCCI, the stakeholders aim to address existing trade imbalances and unlock new opportunities for mutual growth in the upcoming fiscal periods.