Describe the history of Chinese relation with Bangladesh.

1. Describe the history of Chinese relation with Bangladesh.
Submitted By:
Mohammad Tawhidur Rahman
Bangladesh
Date of Submission:
November 04, 2015

2. Mohammad Tawhidur Rahman Relation between China & Bangladesh 2
CHINA and BANGLADESH: Historical Relation
Early age of China:
Chinese history, which dates back more than 5000 years, is extraordinarily rich,
complex and potentially confusing. Understanding at least its basic chronology and some of
its most notable events and developments is made somewhat easier by virtue of its ancient
system of dynasties.
Some dynasties, such as the Chou and the Ming, lasted for centuries. Others, such as
the Ch'in and the Sui, ended after a few decades. Some have been relatively tranquil; others
have been turbulent.
Over the lengthy span of Chinese history, each dynasty is distinguished both by its
name and by the impact of individuals, outside influences, and technological advances on all
aspects of its culture-economic, political, artistic, and religious.
Maritime Silk Road:
Starting from Quanzhou Fujian Province, the maritime Silk Road was the earliest
voyage route that was formed in the Qin and Han dynasties, developed from the Three
Kingdoms Period to the Sui Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and fell into
decline in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Through the maritime Silk Road silks, china ceramics, tea, brass and iron were the
four main categories exported to foreign countries; while spices, flowers and plants and rare
treasures for the court were brought to China. Therefore, the maritime Silk Road was also
known as "the maritime China road "or "the maritime spices road".
The maritime Silk Road was a conduit for trade and cultural exchange between
China's south-eastern coastal areas and foreign countries. There were two major routes: the
East China Sea Silk Route and the South China Sea Silk Route.
Southwestern Route:
The southwestern route is believed to be the Ganges/ Brahmaputra Delta, which has
been the subject of international interest for over two millennia. Strabo, the 1st-century
Roman writer, mentions the deltaic lands: "Regarding merchants who now sail from
Egypt...as far as the Ganges, they are only private citizens..." His comments are interesting as
Roman beads and other materials are being found at Wari-Bateshwar ruins, the ancient city
with roots from much earlier, before the Bronze Age, presently being slowly excavated
beside the Old Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.
Ptolemy's map of the Ganges Delta, a remarkably accurate effort, showed that his
informants knew all about the course of the Brahmaputra River, crossing through
the Himalayas then bending westward to its source in Tibet. It is doubtless that this delta was
a major international trading center, almost certainly from much earlier than the Common
Era. Gemstones and other merchandise from Thailand and Java were traded in the delta and
through it.
Chinese archaeological writer Bin Yang and some earlier writers and archaeologists,
such as Janice Stargardt, strongly suggest this route of international trade as Sichuan-
Yunnan-Burma-Bangladesh route. According to Bin Yang, especially from the 12th century
the route was used to ship bullion from Yunnan (gold and silver are among the minerals in
which Yunnan is rich), through northern Burma, into modern Bangladesh, making use of the
ancient route, known as the 'Ledo' route. The emerging evidence of the ancient cities of
Bangladesh, in particular Wari-Bateshwar ruins, Mahasthangarh, Bhitagarh, Bikrampur,
Egarasindhur, and Sonargaon, are believed to be the international trade centers in this route.

3. Mohammad Tawhidur Rahman Relation between China & Bangladesh 3
Ancient Relation:
Chinese monks, scholars and traders of the Qin dynasty, visited the ancient Vedic
kingdom of Pundravardhana, located in present-day Bogra and Rangpur, Bangladesh as early
as the 2nd century BCE, by traveling across the south-west Silk Road. Between the 5th and
7th centuries, many Chinese monks such as Yijing and Xuanzang, traveled to the Buddhist
monasteries of northern Bangladesh, seeking knowledge of the "Western Heaven" Bengal
Region. Atish Dipankar Srigana, a Buddhist master from Bikrampur, Bangladesh, traveled to
Tibet in the 8th century and established the Sarma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Relations flourished during the Early Bengal Sultanate. After Ghiyasuddin Azam
Shah (third Sultan of the first Iliyas Shahi dynasty of Bengal) sent the first embassies to
China, the Ming dynasty and the Sultanate frequently exchanged diplomatic missions.
The Yongle Emperor, in particular, sent annual envoys to Bengal.
Mural of Atish Dipankar at the Ralung
Monastery in Tibet
The tribute giraffe of Sultan Hamza Shah being
presented to the Yongle Emperor in 1414
Chinese explorer Zheng He (Cheng Ho) undertook at least two, and according to
some four, voyages to Bengal. An excerpt from the journals of the time describes the journey
to Sonargaon –
"We started from the Kingdom of Sumatra, sailed with the wind for twenty days and
anchored in Chittagong (port city of Bangladesh). From there we took small boats for over
250 kilometers to Sonargaon....There was a guard of honor of thousands of people
accompanying us along the way....
The locals are followers of Islam. They are honest and pure and speak a language
called Bengali. Some men wrap their foreheads in white cloth and wear long white shirts.
Some others are wrapped in colorful cloth from the waist down. Women are dressed in short
shirts and draped with brocades....
The kingdom is densely populated and has abundant resources and fertile lands. Hard-
working men plough the fields while diligent women weave cloth. Many of the rich build
ships and go abroad for business...."
FaXian (c.337–422) was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled by foot from China
to India, visiting many sacred Buddhist sites in what are
now Xinjiang, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri-Lanka between c. 399-412 to
acquire Buddhist texts. His journey is described in his important travelogue, A Record of
Buddhist Kingdoms, Being an Account by the Chinese Monk FaXian of his Travels in India
and Ceylon in Search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline. Antiquated transliterations of his
name include Fa-Hienand and Fa-hsien.

4. Faxian at the ruins of Atoka’s palace A portrait of Xuanzang (A.D. 602-664)
Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) was born in China in 602 A.D. Becoming a Buddhist monk
at the age of twenty, he longed for knowing more and more of Buddhism to satisfy his
spiritual hunger. But without a visit to India, he knew his desire for learning would remain
unfulfilled. When he was about 30, he secretly left China for an adventurous journey towards
India.
In India, he wanted to visit all the sacred places connected with the life of Buddha, as
well as to learn of Buddhism through study. During his travel he covered many more places
and observed keenly the social, religious, political, cultural and economic conditions of the
country.
Hiuen Tsang visited Kashmir and the Punjab. He proceeded to Kapilavastu, Bodh-
Gaya, Sarnath, and Kusinagara. He studied in the University of Nalanda (India). He also
traveled through the Deccan, Orissa and Bengal. He went almost too every part of India.
Harshavardhana (Indian emperor who ruled North India from 606 to 647) came to
admire him for his deep devotion to Buddha and his profound knowledge of Buddhism. He
honored him in his Kanauj religious Assembly, and also invited him to attend the Prayaga
Assembly. After attending those two magnificent functions, Hiuen Tsang prepared to leave
for China after having spent long fourteen years of his life on the soil of India. King
Harshahttp://www.importantindia.com/2930/short-biography-of-harshavardhana/ was sorry
to part with the pilgrim. But he made elaborate arrangements for his safe return under a
strong military escort to the frontiers of India. Thus, Hiuen Tsang finally reached back home.
Hiuen Tsang took with him from India 150 pieces of the bodily relics of Buddha, a
large number of Buddha images in gold, silver and sandalwood and above all, 657 volumes
of valuable manuscripts, carried by twenty horses of his escort party.
Present Relation:
The People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of Bangladesh officially
established diplomatic relations on October 4, 1975. After 40 years, it has evolved into not
only a diplomatic relationship but also a friendship. The cooperation on economic and
military issues, culture and education, and science and technology has helped to forge
remarkable ties between the two countries. Frequent exchanges of high-level visits between
China and Bangladesh, increasing contacts as well as expanding cooperation in various fields.

5. Mohammad Tawhidur Rahman Relation between China & Bangladesh 5
China-Bangladesh relations
China Bangladesh
Strategic Cooperation:
The matrix of Beijing-Dhaka relations permeates multiple avenues, ranging from
strategic to commercial, energy security to infrastructural. Of these the strategic ties are one
of the most salient. China is pushing ahead with its strategic and commercial forays in
Bangladesh at full speed. Chinese ventures into infrastructure building and port development
are aimed at consolidating Beijing’s vision for a maritime corridor extending from the South
China Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Bay of Bengal. In this context China is helping to
develop the Chittagong port along the coast of Bangladesh. Bangladesh too desires enhanced
infrastructure. Dhaka has sought Chinese assistance in constructing a highway passing
through Myanmar to Yunnan province of China.
Despite the power gap between China and Bangladesh, the two countries have shown
clear commitment over the years to building “a positive, cooperative and comprehensive
relationship” that will surely pick up the momentum in the coming years. Indeed,
Bangladesh's relations with China over the next decade clearly present a host of opportunities.
'One Belt, One Road'
When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia in
September and October of 2013, he raised the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road
Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road . Essentially, the 'belt' includes
countries situated on the original Silk Road through Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East,
and Europe. The initiative calls for the integration of the region into a cohesive economic
area through building infrastructure, increasing cultural exchanges, and expansion trade.
Apart from this zone, which is largely analogous to the historical Silk Road, another area that
is said to be included in the extension of this 'belt' is South Asia and Southeast Asia. Many of
the countries that are part of this 'belt' are also members of the China-led Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB). The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the
Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor are officially classified as
"One Belt, One Road” Initiative.
Port
cities on the maritime silk route featured on
the voyages of Zheng He
China presses on with new Silk Road plan

6. Trade and Investment:
Bangladesh is third largest trade partner of China in South Asia. But, the bilateral
trade between them is highly tilted in favor of China. Bilateral trade reached as high as
US$ 6.8 billion in 2013. In order to bridge huge trade gap China has not only provided
economic aid to Bangladesh but also signed the Asia – Pacific Free Trade Agreement (AFTA)
to remove tariff barriers from commodities imported from Bangladesh. China removed tariff
barriers to 84 types of commodities imported from Bangladesh and is working to reduce
tariffs over the trade of jute and textiles, which are Bangladesh's chief domestic products.
China's mainly imports raw materials from Bangladesh like leather, cotton textiles, fish, etc.
China's major exports to Bangladesh include textiles, machinery and electronic products,
cement, fertilizer, tyre, raw silk, maize, etc.
China wanted to invest about 350 million US dollars in various sectors of Bangladesh
for product diversification, value addition as well as enhancement of exports for mutual
benefits of the two countries. China has also taken the initiative to develop natural gas
resources and nuclear power plants in Bangladesh. The landlocked Yunan province of China
has sought to engage in economic cooperation with Bangladesh to rectify its own regional
inequalities and gain access to the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh too, has offered to set up a
Special Economic Zone for China. The ‘Agreement on Economic and Technical
Cooperation’ and the ‘Framework Agreement’ on a concessional loan provided by China to
Bangladesh are two other significant treaties signed by the two nations.
Energy Cooperation:
The Cabinet of Bangladesh government has approved Bangladesh-China joint venture
Power Company at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The joint
venture between Bangladesh’s North-West Power Generation Company Limited and China’s
National Machinery Import and Export Corporation named Bangladesh-China Power
Company Private Ltd has already started setting up a coal-based 1320 megawatt power plant
in Patuakhali.
Defense Cooperation:
Since 1976, the two countries have been maintaining regular contacts to negotiate
weapons transfers, inspect military facilities, and explore areas of defense cooperation.
Chinese advisers and technicians have periodically served in Chittagong and Dhaka to assist
with making Chinese equipment operational in the Bangladeshi armed forces. Today, almost
70% of Bangladesh's defense inventory, comprising fighter aircrafts, frigates, coastal patrol
boats, and tanks, are supplied by China.
Education and Cultural Relation:
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Bangladesh and China have had
excellent cooperation in the fields of education and culture. The two countries concluded a
bilateral Cultural Agreement in November 1979. After that, the bilateral exchanges between
the two countries on education and culture have grown steadily. The two countries
subsequently signed several time-bound Executive Programmes in accordance with the
existing Cultural Agreement to identify the specific cultural events or exchange issues.
The Chinese Government has increased scholarship quota for Bangladesh students
from 50 to 80 on an annual basis with effect from 1st January 2009. There are a growing
number of Bangladeshi students arriving in China to study on self-finance basis. Recently, a
number of public and private sector Universities in Bangladesh have established working
relations with well renowned Universities in different provinces of China.
The cultural artistes and organizations of both countries have also been regularly
participating in various international events held in each other’s territory. Such regular
exchange and interaction in the cultural arena has helped greater understanding among the

7. Mohammad Tawhidur Rahman Relation between China & Bangladesh 7
two peoples. Efforts are also being made to showcase each other’s cultural heritage and
achievements through private initiatives.
CONCLUSION
China is currently Bangladesh's biggest trade partner. Bilateral trade reached as high
as US$ 6.8 billion, which reflects sharp growth. Leather, cotton textiles and fish are the
primary products imported by China, while China mostly exports textiles, machinery,
electronics, cement, fertilizer, and raw silk to Bangladesh. Some may cite a trade imbalance
between the two countries, but it should be remembered that China has supported Bangladesh
with investments in projects and infrastructure and education. This meaningful support and
mutual cooperation keeps the ties between the two countries strong and healthy.
Many believe that there are a lot of things that Bangladesh should learn from China.
There are enormous chances for Bangladesh to develop and grow with the support of China.
The most important things that Bangladesh should learn from China are discipline, unity and
willingness of development. With different political models and education systems,
Bangladesh shouldn't attempt to enact similar policies of development, but should proceed
step by step according to what works best for its economy and society. It is not only about
support, aid and loans. It is all about development with time and growth with cooperation. It's
expected that China and Bangladesh's bilateral relations will grow and the "Comprehensive
Partnership of Cooperation" will deepen and be expanded over time.
-THANK YOU-
References:
1. en.wikipedia.org
2. mofcom.gov.cn
3. Asian Art Collection
4. thedailystar.net
5. bd.chineseembassy.org
6. chinahighlights.com
7. facebook.com
8. archive.artsmia.org
9. tandfonline.com
10. china.org.cn
11. factsanddetails.com
12. silk-road.com