China and Bangladesh have agreed to strengthen customs cooperation, especially in the area of customs inspection and quarantine, as the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade cooperation and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries at a meeting in Beijing recently.

Zhao Zenglian, vice minister of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), met with a Bangladeshi delegation led by Nazmul Islam, Bangladesh ambassador to China, at the GACC headquarters in Beijing on January 30.

The two sides held constructive exchanges over various topics, including joint implementation of the Smart Customs Cooperation Partnership, enhanced cooperation on food safety mechanism, as well as trade security and facilitation of agricultural products.

During their meeting, Zhao reiterated China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral trade cooperation. And ambassador Islam expressed gratitude for China’s support, including the extension of the 100 percent duty-free quota-free market access for Bangladeshi products.

Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to sign a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation with China. In October, the two countries just celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, which they had elevated to the level of comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2024.