Dhaka: Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today emphasized that education, not concrete or steel, would serve as the cornerstone for the burgeoning relationship between Bangladesh and China. This statement underscores the importance of educational and developmental cooperation between the two nations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Milon made these remarks during the opening session of the “China-Bangladesh Round Table on Governance Experience Exchange” held at a city hotel. The event, organized by the Centre for China Studies of Dhaka University in partnership with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), highlights the ongoing collaboration efforts.
Milon underscored the strategic partnership’s growth, facilitated by academic cooperation, research, and institutional exchanges. He highlighted recent memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed between Dhaka University and Chinese universities, aiming to bolster higher education and research collaborations.
The minister also stressed the necessity of transforming Bangladesh’s substantial population into skilled human resources through quality education and technical training. He noted the government’s commitment, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, to invest significantly in the education sector, focusing on knowledge exchange, skills development, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, also present at the event, acknowledged Bangladesh as an important partner in governance cooperation. He emphasized the expanding bilateral relations, marked by political exchanges, education, infrastructure, and economic cooperation.
Yao Wen mentioned that personnel exchanges between the two countries are increasing, with over 32,000 visas issued so far this year, a number expected to exceed 100,000 by year’s end. He noted that China is expanding educational cooperation by establishing new Confucius Institutes at Rajshahi University and Chittagong University.
The ambassador also highlighted significant Chinese investments in Bangladesh, creating thousands of jobs and supporting major cooperation projects like the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project and the Mongla Port upgrade.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam and SIIS President Dr. Chen Dongxiao, among others, addressed the event, which included sessions on international affairs, artificial intelligence, and governance, attended by experts from both countries.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha