The Bangladeshi Embassy in Beijing hosted a grand diplomatic reception on Tuesday evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China with great enthusiasm and festivity. The event held at a 5-star hotel was marked by enthusiasm and a shared commitment to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations.

The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries co-hosted the celebratory reception, which was attended by a host of distinguished guests, diplomats, and dignitaries.

The milestone anniversary has been marked by an exchange of congratulatory messages between the heads of state and government of both countries, reaffirming their pledge to advance the existing ‘comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership’.

The event was graced by Mr. Luosang Jiangcun, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of China, as the chief guest. Among other distinguished guests were Mr. Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Mr. Liu Bin, Member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China; and Major General Zhang Baochun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission.

The program began with the national anthems of Bangladesh and China. Bangladesh Ambassador to China, Mr. Md. Nazmul Islam, delivered the welcome speech, highlighting the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries. He expressed optimism about further strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the coming decades.

In his remarks, Mr. Lu Xiangdong, Vice-President of CPAFFC, emphasized the importance of deepening mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation, enhancing people-to-people connectivity, and promoting cultural exchanges to further develop Bangladesh-China relations.

To commemorate the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties, a commemorative envelope was unveiled, and a cake-cutting ceremony was held. The Embassy also published a special magazine featuring Bangladesh-China relations, Bangladesh’s economic opportunities, tourism, and cultural diversity.

As a continuum to recognize outstanding contributions to the promotion of bilateral relations, the Embassy has been honouring the Chinese individuals and institutions. During the reception, the Embassy honored three Chinese nationals, including one former Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, and two institutions for their exceptional contributions to strengthening Bangladesh-China friendship.

The cultural segment of the evening featured captivating performances by popular Bangladeshi musicians, including Emon Chowdhury and his band ‘Bengal Symphony’, as well as D Rockstar Shuvo and Oni Hasan, who performed both classic and contemporary Bangladeshi songs. Their performances showcased Bangladesh’s rich musical heritage and captivated the audience. Young Chinese performers also presented traditional dances, symbolizing the deep cultural bond between the two nations. The performance enchanted and connected everyone present at the event with the rhythm, lyrics, and melody.  

A video presentation highlighting Bangladesh’s tourism, culture, investment potential, and development progress was shown during the event. A display corner showcased Bangladeshi handicrafts, garments, jute products, and replicas of Bangladeshi ships, as well as major Chinese projects in Bangladesh. Guests received souvenir gift bags containing magazines and tourism brochures.

Ambassadors and senior diplomats, senior Chinese officials, former Chinese envoys to Bangladesh, scholars, prominent business leaders, representatives from social and cultural organizations, media personnel, and members of the Bangladeshi community in China attended the reception. Guests were welcomed with traditional Bangladeshi scarves.

The grand celebration in Beijing not only marked five decades of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations but also reflected the growing friendship, cultural affinity, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.