Mango Diplomacy: Bangladesh Is Using This Unique Plan To Build Ties Like Mao Zedong-Pak Relations

A unique from of diplomacy has recently been used by Bangladesh and it is a very sweet diplomacy indeed.

Every year during the summers, mango fever grips India and the entire subcontinent. The beloved 'King of Fruits' is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines, while the mango tree is the national tree of Bangladesh.

Unsplash

Recognizing the cultural significance of mango amongst South Asian countries, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been using the fruit to build strong diplomatic relations.

Mango diplomacy

In June this year, the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh sent mangoes to the Northeastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura and Nagaland.

On June 15, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha received 500 kilograms of mangoes.

Twitter

On June 13, Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio had received the same gift.

I'm honoured to receive finest quality mangoes from the Hon'ble PM of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, H.E Sheikh Hasina. I hope India-Bangladesh relations is further strengthened under the leadership of @PMOIndia Shri @narendramodi Ji. Best wishes to the people of Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/EC8dAdl5nB

¡ª Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) June 13, 2023

Similarly, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also received mangoes on June 12.

Assam CM accepting the mango gift from Bangladesh/ Twitter

This mango diplomacy has not been limited to the Northeastern States.

As reported by PTI on June 13, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sent seasonal mangoes as gifts to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, as well as to other Indian dignitaries such as Sonia Gandhi, former leader of the Indian National Congress and Mamata Banerjee, CM of West Bengal.

Sweet politics

This is not the first time that Bangladesh has undertaken Mango diplomacy. In fact, every year, PM Sheikh Hasina sends mangoes to Northeast India. Last year too, mangoes were sent as a gift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief ministers of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam.

Such efforts of winning over with sweetness do work as an actual test of diplomacy. For instance, in 2021, when Pakistan dispatched mangoes to the heads of over 32 countries as part of its 'Mango diplomacy', countries like the US and China declined to accept the gift, citing their coronavirus quarantine regulations.

Historic usage of mango to soothe tensions

Mangoes have historically played a role in soothing tense political relations between countries. Leaders have often utilized the gift of mangoes to bridge gaps in diplomatic relations. Examples include Jawaharlal Nehru presenting mangoes to Mao Zedong and Sheikh Hasina sending mangoes as gifts to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mango was probably first used to build diplomatic relations in 1968 when a crate of mangoes was gifted to the then Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), Mao Zedong, by Pakistani foreign minister Mian Arshad Hussain.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of Chinese Communist Party (1949-1976)/ Wikipedia

Chairman Mao Zedong then, for the first time, introduced Pakistani mangoes to China in 1968 when in the middle of the violence of the Cultural Revolution, he gave these to the CPC workers.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.