Friendship Across Borders: Bangladeshi Youth Gain In-depth I

Bangladeshi youth delegation takes a group photo at the Palace Museum.

BEIJING, July 1 (China Economic Net) - A 22-member delegation of young Bangladeshi leaders has concluded its 10-day study tour covering Kunming, Shanghai and Beijing, with a closing ceremony held in the Chinese capital. The event marks another milestone in advancing the building of a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future. Beyond official remarks, the delegates’ genuine sentiments of resonance, amazement and kinship best reflect the harvest of this visit.

Ms. Chowdhury Sadia Jahan Fariha, Assistant Clinical Psychologist at the University of Dhaka, set foot in China for the first time and was profoundly impressed by China’s sound preservation of cultural heritage.

“The first thing I noticed is how carefully China safeguards its cultural and historical heritage, a feat Bangladesh has failed to achieve, as many of our historical relics have faded away over time,” she said. “Chinese people take immense pride in their millennia-long civilisation, and this profound bond with their cultural roots strikes a deep chord with me.”

Hasnat Mahamud Chowdhury, a journalist with The Daily Inqilab, first became fascinated with China during a 24-hour transit stop in Guangzhou last year.

“After my brief stay in Guangzhou, I was utterly mesmerised by China,” he recalled. This tour brought him to iconic landmarks including the Palace Museum and the Great Wall, deepening his admiration for the country.

“The well-preserved ancient architecture of the Palace Museum left an indelible impression on me. The Great Wall, one of the world’s seven wonders, stands as an extraordinary ancient defensive project,” he noted.

He highlighted valuable experience Bangladesh can draw from China: advanced agricultural technologies in Kunming, sustainable riverfront urban governance models in Shanghai, and systematic cultural heritage protection mechanisms nationwide.

Md Kamal Uddin, Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, pursued his PhD in China from 2017 to 2022 but missed trips to Beijing and Shanghai due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This visit offered him a brand-new perspective of the country he once studied in.

“I am fortunate to revisit China and view it from a brand-new lens,” he said. Shanghai stood out as his favourite city. “It is a dynamic metropolis split by the Huangpu River, which separates old Shanghai from the new downtown. The harmonious coexistence of historical charms and modern vitality here is breathtaking.”

At the closing ceremony, Li Yafang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China International Communications Group, said the delegation’s visit came at a crucial moment when the two countries are jointly advancing a shared future. She called on young people of China and Bangladesh to share development experience, participate in joint growth and act as friendly messengers to deepen mutual understanding.

Li Kaisheng, Vice President of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, expressed hope that the two countries would deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, trade and economic exchanges, and knowledge sharing. He also encouraged young people from both countries to strengthen friendship so that the traditional ties between China and Bangladesh will be carried forward from generation to generation.

Aga Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, head of the Bangladeshi delegation and a lecturer at the University of Dhaka, pledged that all delegates would act as envoys of bilateral friendship upon returning home.

“We will present a comprehensive, authentic and multi-dimensional picture of China to the Bangladeshi public, and push for deeper youth exchanges and think tank cooperation between our two countries,” he said.

Over the ten days of visits to flower markets, riverside landmarks and world-famous historical sites, the young Bangladeshi delegates forged a heartfelt connection with China, carrying precious memories of friendship across national boundaries back to their motherland.