Bangladesh Wants Direct Highway Connection to Kunming
Bangladesh has proposed constructing a direct 1,200-kilometer roadway to Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province, that would pass through Myanmar. Commerce Minister Khondokar Abdul Muktadir presented this plan during a meeting at the Secretariat with a visiting Yunnan delegation led by Executive Vice Governor Zhao Junmin. The Minister emphasized that a functional road link starting from Chattogram could enable goods transport within 24 hours, dramatically cutting transit costs while boosting trade and supply chain dynamics across Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Southwest China.
Highlighting the economic potential of Yunnan’s 46.4 million people, Minister Muktadir called for deeper bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and technology. He stressed the swift implementation of free bonded warehousing and exhibition facilities to help Bangladeshi exports enter the Chinese market. Furthermore, discussions focused on launching direct cargo flights to trade perishable agricultural produce, including importing flowers, fertilizers, and animal feed from Yunnan, and exporting Bangladeshi items such as jute goods, leather, frozen fish, and fresh fruits.
Supporting these initiatives, Executive Vice Governor Zhao Junmin highlighted that bilateral trade between Yunnan and Bangladesh surpassed 1.3 billion yuan in 2025. He noted, ‘Bangladesh is the first South Asian country to benefit from Yunnan’s special trade facilitation policy.’ Under this policy, bonded warehousing, exhibition centers, and customs facilities are being put in place and will take effect soon. Additionally, following a Memorandum of Understanding between Yunnan’s Department of Commerce and Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau, a venue for displaying Bangladeshi goods in Yunnan has been designated.
To strengthen ties, Commerce Minister Muktadir urged Chinese businesses, particularly women entrepreneurs from Yunnan, to explore direct investment opportunities in Bangladesh. He also sought assistance from Yunnan authorities to model an urban park project on the old prison site in Sylhet after modern city parks in Kunming. High-level officials, including Commerce Secretary Md. Ataur Rahman Khan and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, attended the high-profile meeting to reaffirm their mutual strategic commitment.
