On June 11, 2025, the opening ceremony of the 2025 Delegation of Young Leaders from Bangladesh to China was held at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). GDUFS President Yan Xiangbin attended the ceremony and delivered a welcome speech. Xu Kai, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and Li Kaisheng, Vice-President of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), delivered opening remarks successively. The ceremony was presided over by Cai Hong, Dean of the Institute for International Education at GDUFS.
GDUFS President Yan Xiangbin extended a warm welcome to the delegation and distinguished guests. He noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh. As a pioneer in China’s reform and opening-up and a crucial hub of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Guangdong Province has maintained close economic, trade, and cultural ties with neighboring countries like Bangladesh. He expressed hope that during their stay in Guangzhou, the delegation members would experience the city’s socio-economic development achievements, gain insights into China’s experiences in state governance and social and urban management, and appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese culture.
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Xu Kai, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, emphasized that the establishment of the Centre for China Studies at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh is a significant outcome of implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of China and Bangladesh in 2023, with one of its roles being to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He proposed three initiatives to the delegation: First, to embark on a journey of mutual learning among civilizations, setting an example through concrete actions for the harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation of different civilizations. Second, to build stronger friendship during the journey, where young leaders should serve as envoys of friendly exchanges between the peoples of China and Bangladesh. Third, to create a journey of forging the future, by learning from the governance experiences of the three cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to enable people to live better lives.
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SIIS Vice-President Li Kaisheng pointed out that the purpose of the SIIS is to integrate the “think-tank” with the “do-tank.” The Centre for China Studies jointly established with Bangladeshi partners is precisely an important practice of such integration. He hoped that the delegation would gain an understanding of a real China and the development logic behind it through visits to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. He also extended gratitude to GDUFS for hosting the first leg of the delegation’s itinerary in Guangzhou.
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The Head of the Delegation, Professor Dr. MD Rakibul Hoque from the University of Dhaka, expressed gratitude to SIIS for its meticulous organization and GDUFS for its warm hospitality. He noted that China’s investment in Bangladesh continues to increase, bilateral relations are growing rapidly and strengthening, and the two countries share common development goals. The 24 members of the delegation are outstanding young individuals from various prestigious universities, think tanks, media outlets and other institutions in Bangladesh. They have a compact and rich itinerary in China, so he looked forward to this exchange promoting more mutual listening and learning between the two countries, fostering long-term cooperation for a shared and brighter future.
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Finally, Shen Minghao, Vice President of GDUFS, delivered a special lecture themed on “Development Experience and Insights from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” for the delegation. He mainly elaborated on the development achievements, patterns, challenges and governance of the Greater Bay Area. Starting from the perspective of China’s history of opening-up, he spoke in detail about the three stages and five states of Guangdong’s reform, opening-up and development. He shared with the delegation China’s industrial models and upgrading process, regional development challenges and countermeasures, particularly emphasizing the importance of AI governance and education governance. The delegation responded enthusiastically, finding the lecture highly insightful.
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Other attendees included Zhu Juhua, Director of SIIS's Department of International Exchanges, Liu Zongyi, Director of the Center for South Asian Studies of SIIS and Director of the Centre for China Studies (Bangladesh), Chen Jingrong, Deputy Director of the Policy and Planning Department of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Zhu Shicheng, Executive Deputy Director of the Centre for China Studies (Bangladesh), and Tan Chenyi, Research Fellow at the Center for South Asian Studies of SIIS.
