Print: 30 Oct 2025
50 years of Bangladesh-China friendship: Green energy partnership lights the way forward
As Bangladesh and China celebrate 50 years of diplomatic friendship on China Day 2025, their partnership is increasingly being defined not only by trade and infrastructure but also by a shared vision of green development. Against the backdrop of China’s historic clean energy boom, Bangladesh is emerging as a key partner in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Green Development agenda.
Bangladesh’s rapidly expanding energy sector has become one of the most dynamic frontiers of cooperation with China. From solar power plants and rooftop systems to the country’s first utility-scale wind project in Cox’s Bazar, Chinese investment, technology, and engineering expertise are helping Bangladesh take tangible steps toward its ambitious goal of generating 30% of electricity from renewable sources by 2040.
One of the most visible examples is the 134 MW Solar Power Plant in Sundarganj, Gaibandha, built by Zhejiang Zhongtai Construction Group. The facility, among the largest in Bangladesh, symbolises the leap from traditional fossil dependence toward clean energy. Similarly, in wind power, a joint venture between Bangladesh’s WZML Group and China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) is pioneering the nation’s first large-scale wind project, marking a turning point for diversification in the energy mix.
Beyond these flagship projects, Chinese companies dominate the supply chain for Bangladesh’s solar home systems (SHS), rooftop solar solutions, and mini-grids. Through IDCOL, Bangladesh has already installed over 4 million SHSs, making it the world’s largest off-grid electrification program – with Chinese technology at its core.
By September 2025, Huawei has delivered more than 700 MW of solar projects in Bangladesh using its FusionSolar Inverter solutions. This includes a 188 MW utility-scale project connected to the national grid, with 10 MW set to be commissioned soon and another 20 MW under construction for operation in early 2026. Notably, Huawei also enabled Bangladesh’s largest and first-ever microgrid with a 22 MWh ESS capacity at MonpuraUpazila, alongside more than 130 rooftop solar projects implemented with its partners.
Huawei’s C&I inverters have powered over 500 MW of installations across leading organizations such as BUET, Meghna Group, Akij Bashir Group, Rising Group, Envoy Group, Fakir Group, Kazi Farms, JTI, and Pran-RFL. These projects highlight Huawei’s role in advancing both utility-scale and industrial solar adoption, ensuring affordable and reliable renewable energy solutions for Bangladesh’s growing energy demands.
The company has also deployed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including an 8 MWh system at Akij Bashir Group and a 1.5 MWh solution at Paragon Group, while UIU established a Solar and BESS Laboratory with Huawei’s support. By integrating solar and storage solutions, Huawei is helping factory owners achieve energy stability and long-term returns, while reinforcing its commitment to building a greener, more sustainable Bangladesh.
Global context: China’s decisive green turn
The deepening collaboration comes at a moment when China itself is reshaping global energy dynamics. According to Ember’s China Energy Transition Review 2025, China invested a record $625 billion in clean energy in 2024, accounting for nearly one-third of global investment.
Wind and solar capacity has more than doubled since 2021, reaching 1,400 GW, while electricity’s share of final energy consumption has risen to 32.4%, surpassing coal in industry.
“This transformation is now deeply embedded in China’s economy,” said Biqing Yang, Asia Analyst at Ember. “Businesses are investing decisively in clean energy—not just because of climate goals, but because it is cheaper, more secure, and the foundation of future competitiveness.”
For countries like Bangladesh, this momentum provides both inspiration and opportunity. As China drives down global technology costs through mass production and innovation, access to affordable renewable energy solutions becomes easier for developing economies.
Bangladeshi perspectives: Opportunities and urgency
Prominent Bangladeshi economist Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, former director general of BIDS and former chief economist of Bangladesh Bank,emphasised the urgency of this transition.
“Bangladesh must move away from gas, oil, and coal. We have not yet achieved our full targets in hydro or solar energy, but foreign investment, especially from China,can play a transformative role. China’s success in renewables shows us what is possible. The faster we convert to renewable energy, the faster we can accelerate economic development,” he told the Daily Sun.
Experts note that renewable energy is not just an environmental necessity but an economic imperative. With fossil fuel import bills rising and global volatility in oil and gas markets, green energy cooperation with China offers Bangladesh a pathway to energy security, industrial competitiveness, and climate resilience.
Belt and road, reimagined as green
Energy has long been a cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but in recent years, Beijing has reframed its overseas investments under the banner of Green BRI.
In Bangladesh, this translates into financing solar, wind, and grid modernisation projects, often backed by Chinese banks such as the China Development Bank and multilateral institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
While challenges remain—including debt sustainability, skill transfer, and the need for modernized grids to absorb intermittent renewables—the trajectory is clear: China’s green shift is pulling Bangladesh along with it.
Looking ahead
As the two nations mark half a century of friendship, energy cooperation is no longer just about meeting Bangladesh’s growing demand—it is about shaping the future of sustainable development in South Asia.
For Bangladesh, Chinese support in renewable energy could mean achieving its 2040 clean energy targets ahead of schedule. For China, Bangladesh represents both a partner in its outward push for green technology and a case study in how the BRI can evolve from roads and ports to solar panels and wind turbines.
The symbolism is powerful: 50 years after Bangladesh and China first forged ties, their partnership now looks not only to the past but to a greener, more resilient future.
Ariful Islam is a journalist with the Daily Sun. Email: [email protected]
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50 years of Bangladesh-China friendship: Green energy partnership lights the way forward
As Bangladesh and China celebrate 50 years of diplomatic friendship on China Day 2025, their partnership is increasingly being defined not only by trade and infrastructure but also by a shared vision of green development. Against the backdrop of China’s historic clean energy boom, Bangladesh is emerging as a key partner in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Green Development agenda.
Bangladesh’s rapidly expanding energy sector has become one of the most dynamic frontiers of cooperation with China. From solar power plants and rooftop systems to the country’s first utility-scale wind project in Cox’s Bazar, Chinese investment, technology, and engineering expertise are helping Bangladesh take tangible steps toward its ambitious goal of generating 30% of electricity from renewable sources by 2040.
One of the most visible examples is the 134 MW Solar Power Plant in Sundarganj, Gaibandha, built by Zhejiang Zhongtai Construction Group. The facility, among the largest in Bangladesh, symbolises the leap from traditional fossil dependence toward clean energy. Similarly, in wind power, a joint venture between Bangladesh’s WZML Group and China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) is pioneering the nation’s first large-scale wind project, marking a turning point for diversification in the energy mix.
Beyond these flagship projects, Chinese companies dominate the supply chain for Bangladesh’s solar home systems (SHS), rooftop solar solutions, and mini-grids. Through IDCOL, Bangladesh has already installed over 4 million SHSs, making it the world’s largest off-grid electrification program – with Chinese technology at its core.
By September 2025, Huawei has delivered more than 700 MW of solar projects in Bangladesh using its FusionSolar Inverter solutions. This includes a 188 MW utility-scale project connected to the national grid, with 10 MW set to be commissioned soon and another 20 MW under construction for operation in early 2026. Notably, Huawei also enabled Bangladesh’s largest and first-ever microgrid with a 22 MWh ESS capacity at MonpuraUpazila, alongside more than 130 rooftop solar projects implemented with its partners.
Huawei’s C&I inverters have powered over 500 MW of installations across leading organizations such as BUET, Meghna Group, Akij Bashir Group, Rising Group, Envoy Group, Fakir Group, Kazi Farms, JTI, and Pran-RFL. These projects highlight Huawei’s role in advancing both utility-scale and industrial solar adoption, ensuring affordable and reliable renewable energy solutions for Bangladesh’s growing energy demands.
The company has also deployed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including an 8 MWh system at Akij Bashir Group and a 1.5 MWh solution at Paragon Group, while UIU established a Solar and BESS Laboratory with Huawei’s support. By integrating solar and storage solutions, Huawei is helping factory owners achieve energy stability and long-term returns, while reinforcing its commitment to building a greener, more sustainable Bangladesh.
Global context: China’s decisive green turn
The deepening collaboration comes at a moment when China itself is reshaping global energy dynamics. According to Ember’s China Energy Transition Review 2025, China invested a record $625 billion in clean energy in 2024, accounting for nearly one-third of global investment.
Wind and solar capacity has more than doubled since 2021, reaching 1,400 GW, while electricity’s share of final energy consumption has risen to 32.4%, surpassing coal in industry.
“This transformation is now deeply embedded in China’s economy,” said Biqing Yang, Asia Analyst at Ember. “Businesses are investing decisively in clean energy—not just because of climate goals, but because it is cheaper, more secure, and the foundation of future competitiveness.”
For countries like Bangladesh, this momentum provides both inspiration and opportunity. As China drives down global technology costs through mass production and innovation, access to affordable renewable energy solutions becomes easier for developing economies.
Bangladeshi perspectives: Opportunities and urgency
Prominent Bangladeshi economist Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, former director general of BIDS and former chief economist of Bangladesh Bank,emphasised the urgency of this transition.
“Bangladesh must move away from gas, oil, and coal. We have not yet achieved our full targets in hydro or solar energy, but foreign investment, especially from China,can play a transformative role. China’s success in renewables shows us what is possible. The faster we convert to renewable energy, the faster we can accelerate economic development,” he told the Daily Sun.
Experts note that renewable energy is not just an environmental necessity but an economic imperative. With fossil fuel import bills rising and global volatility in oil and gas markets, green energy cooperation with China offers Bangladesh a pathway to energy security, industrial competitiveness, and climate resilience.
Belt and road, reimagined as green
Energy has long been a cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but in recent years, Beijing has reframed its overseas investments under the banner of Green BRI.
In Bangladesh, this translates into financing solar, wind, and grid modernisation projects, often backed by Chinese banks such as the China Development Bank and multilateral institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
While challenges remain—including debt sustainability, skill transfer, and the need for modernized grids to absorb intermittent renewables—the trajectory is clear: China’s green shift is pulling Bangladesh along with it.
Looking ahead
As the two nations mark half a century of friendship, energy cooperation is no longer just about meeting Bangladesh’s growing demand—it is about shaping the future of sustainable development in South Asia.
For Bangladesh, Chinese support in renewable energy could mean achieving its 2040 clean energy targets ahead of schedule. For China, Bangladesh represents both a partner in its outward push for green technology and a case study in how the BRI can evolve from roads and ports to solar panels and wind turbines.
The symbolism is powerful: 50 years after Bangladesh and China first forged ties, their partnership now looks not only to the past but to a greener, more resilient future.
Ariful Islam is a journalist with the Daily Sun. Email: [email protected]