China, Bangladesh Building Foundation for Next 50 Years of Strategic Cooperation: Ambassador Yao Wen

Photo: CNI

Diplomatic Correspondent: China and Bangladesh are working to lay a strong foundation for the next 50 years of bilateral cooperation by advancing high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, strengthening infrastructure development, promoting good governance, and aligning their national development strategies, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said on Monday.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the Comparative Governance Forum in Dhaka, Ambassador Yao said bilateral ties have reached a new strategic height and will be further strengthened through the joint vision of building a China–Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future.

He described the June visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to China as a historic milestone in bilateral relations. During the visit, the leaders of both countries agreed to further deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and jointly build a China–Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future in the new era.

According to the ambassador, the progress demonstrates that relations between the two countries have moved beyond traditional cooperation to a higher level of strategic partnership.
Yao reaffirmed that, regardless of changes in the international landscape, China will continue to regard Bangladesh as a trusted friend and reliable partner, while preserving the long-standing friendship between the two nations.

He said both countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation under the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative by expanding collaboration in industrial development, infrastructure, and the alignment of development strategies. They have also reached important understandings on governance, river development, and the China–Bangladesh–Myanmar Economic Corridor, among other areas.

The ambassador noted that practical cooperation between China and Bangladesh is advancing with a broader scope, stronger institutional framework, and higher standards. He emphasized that cooperation in governance is an essential pillar of building a shared future between the two countries.

Yao observed that the current Bangladesh government is pursuing a people-centered development agenda while facing challenges such as maintaining political stability, upgrading industrial capacity, and responding to an increasingly complex global environment. He said the Comparative Governance Forum has been organized to facilitate the exchange of experiences on these issues.

The ambassador said the forum's training programme includes sessions on China's modernization of state governance, public administration, the country's four major global initiatives, digital governance, artificial intelligence (AI), and the digital economy.

He added that participants will have opportunities to visit development projects in China and engage in roundtable discussions on aligning China's development experience with Bangladesh's national development priorities.

Quoting a Chinese proverb, Yao said, "Only those whose hearts are united can build lasting relationships." He expressed hope that participants would draw valuable lessons from China's development experience and adapt effective policies and practices suited to Bangladesh's own realities.

He also said the participation of government officials, academics, researchers, and representatives from various sectors would deepen mutual understanding and help identify new avenues for future cooperation between the two countries.