Foreign secretary bids farewell to Chinese ambassador upon completion of tenure

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam hosted a farewell luncheon in honour of Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the State Guest House Padma in the capital on Thursday.

Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the luncheon, said a statement published on the official Facebook page of the Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Secretary Siam expressed his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Yao Wen for his active cooperation, close engagement and valuable contribution to the strengthening of Bangladesh–China relations throughout his nearly four-year tenure in Bangladesh.

Recalling the successful visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, to China in June 2026, the Foreign Secretary noted that the visit marked an important milestone in bilateral relations, with the two countries elevating their relationship to a “China-Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.” He expressed appreciation for China’s contribution to the successful outcome of the visit, including the issuance of the Joint Communiqué.

Ambassador Siam highlighted several key areas of ongoing bilateral cooperation, including the Teesta River Comprehensive Management Project and broader cooperation on river management, the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor, and the China Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Bangladesh. He underscored the importance of maintaining momentum in these areas and further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, infrastructure and economic development.

Ambassador Yao Wen thanked the Foreign Secretary for hosting the farewell luncheon and described his nearly four-year tenure in Bangladesh as an eventful and memorable period. He recalled the high-level exchanges and important developments witnessed during his tenure, including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China, the issuance of the Joint Communiqué and the elevation of bilateral relations to a new level.

Ambassador Yao also expressed appreciation for the cooperation extended by the Government of Bangladesh in ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals and facilitating their activities in the country. He expressed hope for the early commencement of the Teesta River Management Project, Padma Barrage Project and the proposed economic corridor.

Ambassador Yao reaffirmed China’s continued support for Bangladesh in multilateral fora and referred to China’s contribution of $800,000 in support of the Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Both sides expressed confidence that the longstanding friendship and close cooperation between Bangladesh and China would continue to deepen and broaden in the years ahead. They also emphasised the importance of sustained high-level engagement and effective follow-up on the understandings reached during the recent Prime Ministerial visit to China.

Ambassador Yao Wen expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Bangladesh for their friendship and warm hospitality, which, he said, had made his stay in Bangladesh memorable.

Following the luncheon, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam and Ambassador Yao Wen exchanged gifts. The Foreign Secretary conveyed his warmest wishes to Ambassador Yao for his future endeavours.