Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon has said education, rather than physical infrastructure, will form the foundation of stronger ties between Bangladesh and China as the two countries expand cooperation in higher education, governance and development.
Speaking at the opening session of the “China-Bangladesh Round Table on Governance Experience Exchange” at a hotel in Dhaka on Friday, he described education as the key link connecting the two nations.
“What would be the construction materials to build a bridge between China and Bangladesh? Is it concrete, cement or rod? No, it is education,” he said.
The day-long conference was organised by the Centre for China Studies at Dhaka University in collaboration with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies.
Highlighting growing strategic relations between the two countries, the minister said Bangladesh and China were strengthening cooperation through academic partnerships, research and institutional exchanges.
He noted that Dhaka University had recently signed two memorandums of understanding with Chinese universities aimed at expanding collaboration in higher education and research.
“There’s a reason behind the strategic relation between Dhaka University and China. We are having MoUs one after another to improve our strategic relationship with China,” he said.
Dr Milon also stressed the importance of transforming Bangladesh’s large population into skilled human resources through quality education and technical training.
“Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. We must convert this population into human capital. So, this is our duty,” he said.
Referring to the government’s education agenda under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he said major investments were being planned in knowledge exchange, skills development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes.
He added that China’s experience in vocational education and industrial development could help Bangladesh build a productive workforce.
Expressing optimism about future cooperation, the minister said relations between the two countries would become “very prosperous and good”.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said Beijing viewed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party as an important partner in governance cooperation and state management.
“The Communist Party of China and the BNP are both ruling parties, and the exchange of state governance experience between the two is now embracing unprecedented opportunities,” he said.
The ambassador said bilateral relations had expanded significantly through political exchanges, education, infrastructure and economic cooperation.
He added that exchanges between people of the two countries were increasing rapidly, with the Chinese Embassy issuing more than 32,000 visas so far this year. According to him, the figure is expected to exceed 100,000 by the end of the year, supported by 45 weekly round-trip flights between Dhaka and several Chinese cities.
Yao Wen also said China was expanding educational cooperation by establishing new Confucius Institutes at Rajshahi University and Chittagong University.
He noted that four Chinese companies had recently invested nearly $100 million in Bangladesh, creating around 10,000 jobs.
The envoy referred to several ongoing bilateral projects, including the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project and the upgrade of Mongla Port.
“China remains a trustworthy and reliable partner for Bangladesh,” he said, adding that Beijing would continue supporting Bangladesh’s economic diversification and development efforts.
He also reaffirmed China’s support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the presidency of the 31st United Nations General Assembly.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies President Dr Chen Dongxiao and State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam also addressed the conference.
The event included sessions on international affairs, artificial intelligence, governance, and river and urban transport management, attended by academics, diplomats and policy experts from both countries.
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