Staff Correspondent

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen is nearing the end of his tenure in Dhaka. The diplomat, who assumed office in January 2023, is preparing to leave Bangladesh next week. Before his departure, he is scheduled to pay a farewell call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday (September 28).

According to government officials, the meeting was pushed back by a day due to the prime minister’s visit to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The date for Yao Wen’s farewell meeting with the president has not yet been finalised.

Earlier, on September 18, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam hosted a farewell luncheon for the Chinese ambassador, attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Yao Wen has held several farewell meetings in the final days of his tenure. On September 20, he met Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir, where they discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations. During the meeting, he also said Liu Haixing, minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, was interested in visiting Bangladesh later this year.

On September 22, Yao Wen held farewell meetings with Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal. Discussions focused on Bangladesh-China relations and cooperation between the two countries’ legislatures.

He also met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on September 21. Their discussions covered cooperation in law and order, cybercrime prevention, technological capacity building and training, among other issues.

Yao Wen took charge in Dhaka in January 2023, succeeding former ambassador Li Jiming. During his tenure of nearly three years and nine months, he witnessed developments in Bangladesh-China relations across various levels. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China in June 2026 also took place during his tenure. Bangladeshi government officials praised his role in the visit.

During Yao Wen’s tenure, the two countries announced plans to elevate their relationship to a “China-Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.” Discussions were also held on establishing new channels of communication and cooperation at the state level.

Sources familiar with the matter said Ambassador Yao Wen is expected to leave Bangladesh in early October. The process of appointing his successor is also reportedly underway.

Meanwhile, as Yao Wen’s farewell engagements continue, a delegation from the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China is visiting Dhaka. The Chinese side has also indicated that Liu Haixing, minister of the CPC International Department, may visit Bangladesh later this year.