China has expressed interest in importing mangoes from Bangladesh this year, prompting an expert delegation to plan a visit to assess mango plantations and production activities during the upcoming mango ripening season.

Scheduled for early June, the delegation's visit aims to provide insights for China's customs department to make a final decision on importing mangoes from Bangladesh. The announcement came during a press release at the Secretariat on Monday, where Agriculture Minister Abdus Shaheed discussed the matter with Yao Wen, the Chinese ambassador to Dhaka.

Expressing hope for Chinese investment in Bangladesh's agriculture sector, Minister Shaheed emphasized the need for modernization and mechanization. He underscored the importance of China's cooperation in providing affordable modern agricultural machinery to Bangladeshi farmers.

The meeting, attended by Additional Secretary Malay Chowdhury, Joint Secretary Md. Mahmudur Rahman, and Chinese Embassy Economic and Commercial Counselor Song Yang, highlighted the potential for agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

In a separate meeting, Irma van Duren, the Netherlands ambassador to Dhaka, discussed enhancing mutual cooperation in agriculture with Minister Shaheed. They explored avenues for strengthening agricultural research and technology exchange, focusing on a joint initiative for constructing and operating an onion storage facility in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, supported by the Netherlands government.

Acknowledging the significance of onions in Bangladesh's agricultural landscape, Minister Shaheed emphasized the importance of increasing and preserving onion production. He lauded the upcoming onion storage facility, set to be inaugurated on May 2, as a crucial step toward achieving self-sufficiency in onion production.

The developments underscore growing international interest in Bangladesh's agricultural sector and highlight collaborative efforts to enhance productivity and agricultural infrastructure in the country.