Bangladesh and China took a significant step towards deepening their people-centric cooperation with the signing of a series of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) among their academic and medical institutions in the capital on Sunday.
The agreements were formalised during the opening ceremony of the "China-Bangladesh People-to-People Exchange Year: Yunnan Education and Health Promotion" programme at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, Dhaka University (DU).
Among these were agreements between DU's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Sciences and Yunnan Peking Cancer Hospital, and Dhaka Medical Collage and Kunming Medical University, paving the way for collaborative medical research and training.
In total, representatives of twelve universities and six medical institutions from China's Yunnan Province are visiting Dhaka to sign ten agreements and establish five centres jointly with Bangladeshi universities.
The event, jointly organised by the People's Government of Yunnan Province and the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, marked a key moment in celebrating the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Governor of Yunnan Province Wang Yubo were among the key dignitaries attending the event.
Other guests included Advisor to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Professor Nurjahan Begum, DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, and officials from the ministries of foreign affairs and education.
Ambassador Yao Wen remarked that the long-standing friendship between China and Bangladesh has entered a "new stage" of deeper, people-focused cooperation, particularly in education and public healthcare sectors.
"China's door of cooperation will remain open," he affirmed, underscoring Beijing's commitment to mutual development under the Belt and Road Initiative.
A major announcement at the event was China's decision to accept more Bangladeshi patients in the hospitals across Yunnan Province, facilitated by streamlined visa process.
Ambassador Yao also welcomed the Bangladesh government's recent approval of a direct flight route between Chittagong and Yunnan, which is expected to significantly enhance connectivity and foster further exchanges.
Adding a new dimension to bilateral trade, Yao declared that Bangladesh would export fresh mangoes to China for the first time, with shipments reaching Kunming and other parts of Yunnan starting in May. Governor Wang Yubo, highlighting the strategic proximity of Yunnan to Bangladesh, emphasised the importance of simplifying trade and visa services to support expanding bilateral engagement.
"We have the opportunity to further modernise and build trust in our economic and industrial relations," he said.
The DU VC spoke of the university's growing collaboration with Chinese institutions.
He noted that the Confucius Institute, DU currently serves around 500 students, while 16 Chinese students are pursuing studies at the university and staying at the international hostel.
Professor Niaz also shared plans to expand educational exchange programmes, including the recent arrival of 18 Chinese students learning Bangla at the DU.
He further thanked the Chinese government for its support in building a new residential hall for female students at the DU, a long-standing need of the university.
The event also witnessed the inauguration of the China-South Asia Youth Exchange Week, and featured 17 booths from Yunnan's universities and medical colleges, showcasing advancements in education and healthcare.
The health advisor lauded China's continued support for Bangladesh's development, including construction of major hospitals in Dhamrai and Rangpur, and donation of robotic physiotherapy equipment.
Nurjahan Begum also recalled China's swift humanitarian response during the July Uprising of 2024, when a Chinese medical team arrived promptly to assist the injured.
The programme was marked by vibrant cultural performances with Bangladeshi and Chinese artists jointly presenting traditional songs.
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