The inauguration ceremony of a 15-week Chinese Language Training Course for officials of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) was held at the BIDA conference room on Monday.
The programme has been jointly organised by BIDA and the Confucius Institute of North South University, said a press release.
The event was chaired by Executive Member of BIDA Mohammad Humayun Kabir, while its Director Maruful Alam moderated the session.
As part of the inaugural proceedings, a documentary video highlighting the achievements and progress of cooperation between Bangladesh and China was screened.
Speaking at the event, Local Director of the Confucius Institute at North South University Professor Bulbul Ashraf Siddiqi said that institutional knowledge of the Chinese language and culture would enable Bangladeshi officials to communicate more effectively with Chinese investors, thereby strengthening bilateral investment and economic cooperation.
Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bangladesh Li Shaopeng stated that the relationship between Bangladesh and China is long-standing, friendly and multi-dimensional.
He added that language education would further deepen this relationship and open new avenues for future cooperation.
Treasurer of North South University Professor Abdur Rob Khan noted that the Confucius Institute has been working for years to promote Chinese language and culture in Bangladesh.
He emphasised that this course would make a significant contribution to the practical skill development of government officials.
In his presidential address, Mohammad Humayun Kabir said that trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and China are steadily expanding.
In this context, acquiring basic proficiency in the Chinese language would add a new dimension to investment facilitation and communication with investors.
Also present at the event were Xia Daojing, third secretary of the Chinese Embassy; Ma Xiaoyan, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute; and Chinese language teachers Huang Xinran and Li Yuanxi.
Following the inauguration ceremony, the first class of the Chinese Language Course commenced at 4pm at BIDA’s training room-1 (Level-1).
A total of 38 officials are participating in the programme, including 30 from BIDA, 4 from BEZA and 4 from BEPZA.
The 15-week training programme will be conducted every Sunday and Wednesday from 4pm to 5:40pm.
