DHAKA: Bangladesh waved off its first consignment of mangoes to China on Wednesday, a largely symbolic export as Beijing sweetens ties after relations soured between Dhaka and former ally and neighbour India.

Bangladesh, still reeling from the political fallout of a 2024 uprising that ended the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina — who fled by helicopter to New Delhi — has since been courted by Beijing, India’s rival.

“It is such a great pleasure to jointly witness this historic moment, as the first consignment of Bangladesh’s premium mangoes sets off for China,” China’s ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said, alongside government officials.

Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy.

Interim Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yun­us’s first state visit was to China, while Bangladesh has also moved closer to Pakistan, India’s arch-enemy.

“President Xi Jinping has emphasised on several occasions that China’s door of opening up will not close, but will only open wider,” Yao said, at a small ceremony at the airport alongside Bangladeshi ministers.

“I am confident that the export of Bangladeshi mangoes to China is just the beginning,” he added.

In China, the fruit has a particular historic diplomatic resonance — including the curious cult of the mango. After Chairman Mao Zedong was pictured gifting a mango to a group of workers in 1968, during the mania of the Cultural Revolution, the fruit beca­me an object of veneration.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2025