Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
The 2025 China-Bangladesh Think Tank Forum, held on 28 September 2025 at Yunnan Minzu University in Kunming, Yunnan Province, stood as a landmark event that reaffirmed the growing intellectual and policy-based collaboration between China and Bangladesh. Organised under the overarching theme “Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership Between China and Bangladesh for Shared Development and Prosperity,” the Forum brought together prominent scholars, policymakers, and research leaders from both nations. The event reflected a shared commitment to fortify mutual trust, enhance strategic collaboration, and advance joint pathways towards sustainable development within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and South-South Cooperation.
The Opening Ceremony set the tone for the day-long exchange of ideas and reaffirmation of the bilateral strategic partnership. It was hosted by Li Xiangyang, Director General of the National Institute of International Strategy (NIIS) under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). In his introductory remarks, Li emphasised the enduring partnership between China and Bangladesh as a vital model of South-South solidarity and mutual respect. The first address was delivered by Zhao Zhimin, Secretary General of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who underscored the intellectual synergy between CASS and the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) as a cornerstone for advancing research-driven policy engagement. He highlighted China’s continued emphasis on inclusivity, shared growth, and regional peace.
Following him, Major General Iftekhar Anis, BSP, awc, afwc, psc, PEng, Director General of BIISS, addressed the gathering by reiterating Bangladesh’s appreciation for the long-standing partnership with China. He underlined the importance of think tank collaboration in enriching policy insights and promoting a pragmatic understanding of global and regional transformations. He further noted that platforms such as the China-Bangladesh Think Tank Forum play an instrumental role in shaping the discourse on security, development, and connectivity. The final speaker of the opening session, Ruan Chaoqi, Secretary of the Party Committee of Yunnan Minzu University, expressed his delight at hosting such a significant event. He underscored the university’s role as a hub of regional cooperation and academic engagement, contributing to people-to-people connectivity and cross-cultural understanding.
The first session, titled “Political Mutual Trust and Strategic Cooperation,” was chaired by Liu Libin, Deputy Director General of NIIS, CASS. This session delved into the political and strategic dimensions of China-Bangladesh relations and the evolving dynamics of regional geopolitics. Zhong Feiteng, Research Fellow at NIIS, CASS, opened the session with his paper “Constructing a Community with a Shared Future in Neighbouring Countries and Exploring the Prospects for Developing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between China and Bangladesh.” His presentation examined the conceptual and practical frameworks underpinning China’s foreign policy vision of a “community of shared future” and its applicability to Bangladesh, suggesting that deepened cooperation could serve as a stabilising influence in South Asia.