Mahdi Amin, the prime minister’s adviser and spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, has called for education to become a key driver of people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and China.

“The historic and deep friendship between Bangladesh and China began under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Later, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the relationship was further strengthened and elevated to a new height. The present government is also giving special priority to diplomatic and trade relations with China,” he said.

Amin made the remarks at a high-level discussion titled “China-Bangladesh Education Cooperation” in Guangzhou during his visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese government, according to a press release on Wednesday.

The meeting also formally launched the China-Bangladesh Industrial and Education Integration International Service Center, which aims to deepen cooperation between the two countries in education and industry.

Amin said the democratic government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was committed to far-reaching reforms in the education sector in line with its election manifesto.

As part of the reforms, the government plans to prioritise technical and vocational education and make it compulsory. It also plans to introduce third-language education, including Mandarin, to equip young people with skills suited to the international job market, he said.

Referring to the government’s goal of making education universal and employment-oriented, Amin said Bangladesh wanted to expand scholarships for Bangladeshi students, pursue joint research initiatives and develop modern laboratory facilities by drawing on the experience of China’s leading polytechnic and technical education institutions.

He also urged Chinese universities and industrial enterprises to invest in Bangladesh, stressing the need to expand regular exchanges of teachers, researchers and students between the two countries.

“At the same time, close cooperation is needed to ensure the welfare of Bangladeshi students currently studying in China,” he added.

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary Mohammad Daud Mia, senior representatives of leading Chinese universities and educational institutions, and officials of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh attended the event.