Dhaka: Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir emphasized on Sunday that partnerships should reinforce national priorities, centering Bangladesh’s development and the welfare of its people in every collaboration. He underscored the importance of Bangladesh pursuing a self-reliant development journey while engaging with China based on mutual respect, national interest, and economic sovereignty.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr Titumir was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organized by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) at North South University. The seminar, titled ‘Bangladesh-China Relations: Enhanced Trust and New Direction’, aimed to discuss how Bangladesh could convert the momentum from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent Beijing visit into tangible benefits in various sectors such as diplomacy, trade, and technology.
Dr Titumir expressed support for Chinese partnerships in multimodal transportation, the Chinese Economic Zone in Chattogram, and other infrastructure projects, while advocating for more cultural exchanges. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam highlighted the progress in Bangladesh-China relations, noting milestones in agreements and cooperation across various sectors. He emphasized the importance of converting these commitments into high-impact projects that align with Bangladesh’s national interest.
The seminar also covered topics such as the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar connectivity framework, regional geopolitics, and the need for Bangladesh to maintain diverse partnerships. Cultural Counsellor Li Shaopeng from the Embassy of China in Bangladesh spoke on the importance of people-to-people connections, emphasizing that human bonds and cultural exchanges are crucial for long-term cooperation.
Former Ambassador Mohammad Sufiur Rahman presented the keynote paper, advocating for a strategic approach to Bangladesh-China relations that prioritizes sustainable cooperation in areas like education, technology, and mutual security. Dr Liu Zongyi from the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies joined the seminar as the lead discussant, supporting the view that Bangladesh-China relations have entered a strategic phase.
The seminar concluded with remarks from various speakers who reiterated the importance of moving beyond conventional development cooperation to achieve sustainable and mutually beneficial outcomes. Prof Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University, highlighted the need to expand Bangladesh’s export basket to China, while Prof Sk. Tawfique M. Haque and Dr S. M. Rubyat reaffirmed SIPG and NSU’s commitment to advancing policy dialogue on Bangladesh’s strategic engagement in the global order.