Published: 11:13 PM, 27 July 2026
Titumir underscores advancing China-BD ties for development
The Prime Minister's Adviser on Economy and Planning, Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, has emphasized Bangladesh's commitment to maintaining close ties with China while advancing the country's own development journey.
He made the remarks on Sunday at a seminar organized by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University (NSU).
Highlighting the government's "Bangladesh First" policy, the adviser said that while Bangladesh would continue to strengthen its relationship with China on the basis of mutual respect, national interest, and economic sovereignty, the country must also lead its own path toward self-reliant development.
The seminar, titled "Bangladesh-China Relations: Enhanced Trust and a New Roadmap," was attended by policymakers, diplomats, researchers, China experts, media representatives, academics, and students.
Professor Titumir welcomed China's partnership in several major initiatives, including the newly launched multimodal transport connectivity, the proposed Chinese Economic Zone in Chattogram, the expansion of Mongla Port, and the proposed Kunming-Chattogram transport link.
Speaking at the event, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam highlighted recent agreements and protocols between Bangladesh and China, as well as cooperation in media, agriculture, water security, supply chains, technology, and multilateral forums.
Li Shaopeng, Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, said that the Prime Minister's visit to China had marked the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Presenting the keynote paper, Mohammad Sufiur Rahman, Senior Research Fellow at SIPG, said that Bangladesh should evaluate its relationship with China not merely from the perspective of project-based cooperation but through the lens of a long-term strategic partnership.
The keynote speaker at the seminar was Liu Zongyi, Director of the Center for South Asia Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) in China.
The seminar was moderated by Professor S. K. Towfique M. Haque, Director of SIPG. Other speakers included Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University (NSU), Benazir Ahmed, Member of the Board of Trustees and S. M. Rubaiyat, Assistant Professor at NSU.
