Foreign Secretary Bids Farewell to Chinese Envoy

Foreign Secretary Ambassador Mr. Asad Alam Siam hosted a farewell luncheon at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka on Thursday to honor the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. Yao Wen. Senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, including Economic Relations Division Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, attended the event. The Foreign Secretary commended Mr. Yao Wen for his active engagement, close cooperation, and significant contributions to bolstering Bangladesh-China bilateral relations throughout his nearly four-year diplomatic tenure.

In his address, Foreign Secretary Mr. Siam highlighted Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China last June as a defining milestone that elevated bilateral relations to a ‘Bangladesh-China Community of Shared Future in the New Era’. He commended China’s instrumental support in achieving the visit’s successful outcomes and releasing the joint statement. Furthermore, he emphasized sustaining momentum in the Comprehensive Teesta River Management Project, the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor, and the China Economic and Industrial Zone while expanding economic ties.

Expressing deep gratitude for the warm hospitality, outgoing Ambassador Mr. Yao Wen reflected on his event-packed tenure, remarking, ‘My nearly four-year stay in Bangladesh was both dynamic and deeply memorable.’ He praised the Bangladesh government for ensuring the safety and operational support of Chinese nationals and voiced optimism regarding the prompt initiation of critical infrastructure initiatives, particularly stating, ‘I hope for the swift commencement of work on the Teesta River Management Project, the Padma Barrage Project, and the proposed economic corridor’.

Reaffirming Beijing’s steadfast commitment to Bangladesh across various multilateral platforms, Mr. Yao Wen highlighted China’s recent $800,000 grant to support the Office of the President of the UN General Assembly. Both sides expressed shared optimism that the long-standing friendship between the two nations would continue to flourish. They mutually stressed the crucial necessity of effectively executing all agreements finalized during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to China while maintaining high-level diplomatic exchanges.

The farewell gathering concluded on a cordial note as Foreign Secretary Mr. Siam and Ambassador Mr. Yao Wen exchanged symbolic gifts following the luncheon. The Foreign Secretary extended his warmest personal wishes for the ambassador’s future diplomatic endeavors. Reaffirming his fond memories, Ambassador Mr. Yao expressed his final gratitude for the unwavering friendship of the host government and its citizens, cementing a positive trajectory for ongoing bilateral cooperation.