Dhaka: Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has stated that the recent visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman to China has injected new momentum into the 'Belt and Road' cooperation, emphasizing that the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries will continue to advance and yield greater benefits for their populations.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the ambassador highlighted the successful visit of the foreign minister, during which both nations reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering cooperation across various sectors. These sectors include trade and investment, infrastructure development, water resource management, the digital economy, green development, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges through practical projects. Ambassador Yao made these remarks during the launch ceremony for the '2026 Chinese Government Training Programs' held at the Chinese Embassy.
The event was attended by notable figures such as Mohammed Nore-Alam, Director General of the East Asia and Pacific Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kawshar Jahan, Joint Secretary of the Economic Relations Division under the Ministry of Finance. Ambassador Yao noted that since the new government took office, four Chinese enterprises have signed investment agreements with Bangladesh, totaling nearly $100 million in intended investments. He further emphasized that China has become the largest source of foreign investment in Bangladesh, with projects such as the Mongla Port expansion, the China-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital, and the China-Bangladesh Friendship Residential Hall at the University of Dhaka being actively pursued.
The ambassador underscored the importance of human resource development cooperation as a key component of the broader partnership between Bangladesh and China. He highlighted that this year is particularly significant, following the successful general election in February and the formation of the new government led by the BNP. Ambassador Yao expressed satisfaction with the continued friendship and deepened cooperation between the two countries over the past three months.
Additionally, a high-level BNP delegation, led by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, visited China, enhancing institutional exchanges and mutual learning on state governance between the Communist Party of China and the BNP. Officials like MoFA Director General Nore-Alam and ERD Joint Secretary Kawshar Jahan commended the achievements of bilateral cooperation, while Han Kun from the Embassy positively assessed the progress in investment, trade, and industrial cooperation.
The Chinese government plans to organize 23 bilateral and 30 multilateral training programs in China this year, offering training opportunities for nearly 600 Bangladeshi participants across sectors such as telecommunications, renewable energy, cross-border e-commerce, road transportation, agriculture, tourism, and education. Ambassador Yao expressed hope that these programs would enhance professional capabilities, foster a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, and strengthen mutual cooperation.
He concluded by wishing success for the training programs and expressed his hope that participants would become ambassadors of friendship, further solidifying China-Bangladesh relations and cooperation.