Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said Beijing sincerely wishes Bangladesh a smooth general election, sustained social stability, and continued improvement in people’s livelihoods.

Democracy is not simply about participation in voting; it should be reflected throughout the entire process of national governance,” he said, noting that Bangladesh is now standing at a crucial stage of democratic transition and national rejuvenation.

The envoy made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking at a seminar hosted by the Association of Former Ambassadors (AOFA) at the Foreign Service Academy.

Yao said democracy finds its true meaning when people’s aspirations are fully reflected in governance — from expressing opinions to policymaking, implementation, and oversight — all within a system that safeguards fairness and justice and promotes public welfare.

This defines the soul and nature of China’s whole-process people’s democracy,” he added.

The Chinese ambassador said China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to uphold a people-centered development philosophy, foster independence and self-reliance, and jointly explore a modernization path suited to their respective national realities.

Highlighting China’s distinct political and development model, Yao said the development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics conforms to China’s reality and ensures that the people run the country.

Through the whole-process people’s democracy, the unity of broad participation and effective governance has been well achieved,” he said, quoting President Xi Jinping’s emphasis that true democracy means people genuinely running the country.

He said China did not follow the Western path of modernization or democracy but instead developed its own models suited to its conditions.

Yao noted that China and Bangladesh have consistently supported each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns. Bangladesh, he said, firmly upholds the one-China principle and supports China on matters related to its sovereignty.

China has always respected Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as the Bangladeshi people’s choice of development path,” he said.

He described practical cooperation as an “important pillar” of bilateral relations, noting that Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Over the past nine years, the BRI has created nearly 600,000 jobs in Bangladesh and injected strong momentum into its economic and social development, he said.

Yao added that China has remained Bangladesh’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.

To support Bangladesh’s smooth graduation from the LDC category, he said China has granted zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of taxable items exported from Bangladesh to China until the end of 2028.

AOFA President Ambassador Abdullah Al-Hasan and General Secretary Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker also spoke at the event.