BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Centre for China Studies (SIIS-DU) jointly organised an International Seminar on “Bangladesh-China Relations: A Future Outlook” on 14 October 2024 at the InterContinental Hotel, Dhaka on the eve of commemorating 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh. The seminar was sponsored by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bangladesh. Md. Touhid Hossain, Honourable Adviser for Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. H.E. Mr. Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh and Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, CPD & Chair, Committee on White Paper on the State of Bangladesh’s Economy were present as Special Guests. Major General Iftekhar Anis, BSP, awc, afwc, psc, PEng, Director General, BIISS delivered the Welcome Address. Dr. Yang Jiemian, Professor, Director of the Academic Advisory Council, SIIS made a special remark during the session. Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, Chairman, BIISS presided over the Inaugural Session. Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Additional Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was a Special Guest during the third working session.

There were three working sessions in the day-long international seminar. The first working session titled “The Impact of Bangladesh's Changing Political Landscape on Regional Dynamics” was moderated by Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, Former Foreign Secretary, Government of Bangladesh. The second working session titled “Bangladesh’s Political, Economic, and Social Reforms and the Trends” was moderated by Dr. Zhang Jiu’an, Associate Research Fellow, Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies. Professor Amena Mohsin, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka moderated the third working session titled “Strengthening China- Bangladesh Cooperation and Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”

Distinguished presenters of the working sessions were Dr. Niloy Ranjan Biswas, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka; Dr. Zhang Jiadong, Professor, Director of the South Asia Research Center, Fudan University; Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam, Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka; Dr. Guo Na, Director of the Bangladesh Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences; Dr. Mao Keji, Assistant Research Fellow, International Cooperation Center, National Development and Reform Commission, China and Mr. Abu Salah Md Yousuf, Research Director, BIISS. Distinguished panelists of the working sessions were Dr. Liu Peng, Associate Professor, School of International Relations, Yunnan University; Ambassador Mahbub Uz Zaman; Ms. Deng Lan, Associate Professor, Institute of Indian Studies, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences; Professor Imtiaz Ahmad, Executive Director, Center for Alternatives; Dr. Wang Xu, Associate Professor, Peking University and Dr. Md Safiqul Islam, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Chittagong.

In different sessions of the day-long seminar, distinguished speakers noted that the cooperation between Bangladesh and China has evolved in many ways and it is expected to remain multifaceted in the coming years. Speakers commended China’s status as Bangladesh’s largest trading partner and highlighted several key initiatives undertaken by China to enhance Bangladesh’s export capabilities. Additionally, the discussions addressed critical issues such as investment, defense collaboration, and technology transfer.

Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors and high commissioners, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, think tanks, business personalities, students and teachers from different universities participated in open discussion sessions and raised their valuable questions, opinions and observations.