China favours ‘smooth, successful, participatory' election in Bangladesh
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Tuesday reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Bangladesh’s interim government, expressing hopes for a “smooth, successful and participatory” national election.
Speaking at a dialogue hosted by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club, Yao said China fully supports Bangladesh’s governance efforts and respects its right to determine its own political and development path.
“The timing and process of the election are entirely for the people of Bangladesh to decide, not any foreign country,” he said, when asked about China’s view on the upcoming polls.
Responding to questions about China’s recent diplomatic initiatives, Yao said Beijing has observed improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, which encouraged China to explore a trilateral cooperation framework involving the three nations.
“China already has several trilateral initiatives worldwide, and the China-Pakistan-Bangladesh framework is simply the latest example,” he said.
In recent months, China has invited leaders from almost all major Bangladeshi political parties—including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party—to visit China. Yao said such political engagements had been limited for years but are now being actively pursued.
“We are engaging with all parties because there is now an opportunity for this,” he noted.
Ambassador Yao emphasized China’s long-standing ties with Bangladesh, highlighting Beijing’s role as a development partner and regional ally.
“China will always remain a trustworthy friend, a good neighbour and a reliable partner of Bangladesh,” he said.
China is one of Bangladesh’s largest trading partners and a key investor in infrastructure and energy projects, including ventures under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Its latest call for a “smooth and participatory” election comes amid heightened global interest in Bangladesh’s political transition and the credibility of its next polls.
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