On January 23, Md. Touhid Hossain, Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, visited the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) and attended the seminar under the theme of “our shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity” as part of the 50th Anniversary of China-Bangladesh Diplomatic Relations Commemoration Series launched by SIIS. This seminar signals the start of commemorative series marking the 50th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic relations initiated by SIIS and also kicks off the “China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchanges.” Government officials, experts and scholars from both countries gathered to discuss the future vision for their development.
The seminar was chaired by Li Kaisheng, Vice President of the SIIS, while Chen Dongxiao, President of the SIIS, delivered a welcome speech to the Bangladeshi delegation. Chen noted that over the past 50 years since the establishment of China-Bangladesh diplomatic relations, political, economic, and cultural cooperation between both countries has yielded fruitful results. He also mentioned that SIIS has given considerable weight to international academic exchanges and cooperation with Bangladesh. In 2024, SIIS joined hands with Dhaka University in Bangladesh to launch the Center for China Studies (CCS), being committed to building it into a platform for knowledge exchange, sharing, and creation. Looking ahead, both sides should continue to strengthen cooperation, seize opportunities, and achieve common development.
Md. Touhid Hossain, Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, stated that both China and Bangladesh are dedicated to achieving and maintaining global peace, stability, and prosperity, and that their mutual support in international affairs has set an example for win-win cooperation between countries. He underscored the colossal contributions made by both countries via mutual cooperation to their economic prosperity and livelihood improvement as well as world peace. In the future, Bangladesh looks forward to further deepening cooperation with China in various fields such as economy and trade, infrastructure, and human resources and advancing the sharing of peace, stability, and prosperity by the people of both countries particularly through the framework of the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI). Bangladesh believes that more comprehensive and in-depth bilateral dialogue and cooperation between the two countries will bring about greater achievements in the new year.
Yang Jiemian, Director of the Academic Advisory Board at SIIS, highlighted that amid the rise of global multipolarity and regional economic integration, there is a bright prospect for cooperation between China and Bangladesh that have their respective goals while sharing common missions. In light of this, both sides should steer clear of disruptions from other parties, fully harness people’s wisdom of both countries, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, come together against global challenges, and uphold fairness and justice in the international community.
The seminar brought together a distinguished group of experts and scholars from Tongji University, East China Normal University, Shanghai Library, SIIS, etc. They took a deep dive into topics such as cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Bangladesh, regional cooperation, and economic development. Its participants unanimously agreed that despite the complex and volatile global political landscape, extensive cooperation between China and Bangladesh promises bright prospects thanks to their robust relations.
In his closing remarks for the seminar, Ambassador of Bangladesh to China Md. Nazmul Islam spoke highly of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Bangladesh and called on both sides to further step up practical cooperation by riding on the wave of great momentum of their bilateral relations on the significant occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Chen Dongxiao indicated that SIIS will maintain its commitment to strengthening cooperation in various fields and double its efforts to facilitate cultural and people-to people exchanges between the two nations. SIIS will focus its efforts on building research platforms like CCS to provide intellectual support for the further development of China-Bangladesh relations. The meeting concluded successfully amid warm applause.
