Bangladesh, China prioritize Mongla Port, Teesta River projects and education

Chinese ambassador Yao Wen said major infrastructure projects, including Mongla Port and the Teesta River project, remain priorities in China-Bangladesh cooperation, alongside education and people-to-people exchanges.

Speaking at a workshop on a Chinese-language competency standard and Course Accreditation Document (CAD) developed by the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA), Yao said Chinese would be introduced as a third-language option in Bangladesh’s education curriculum following prime minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China.

Yao said language training should be combined with vocational and technical education so Bangladeshi workers can take jobs with Chinese companies at home and on projects abroad.

China has been Bangladesh’s largest trading partner for 16 years and has created more than 250,000 jobs in the country, Yao said. He added that more than 400,000 people travel between the two countries annually, while more than 100,000 Bangladeshis are learning Chinese.