Prime Minister’s Education and Primary and Mass Education Adviser Mahdi Amin on Wednesday said education should become a key driving force in strengthening people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and China.

Speaking at a meeting on Bangladesh-China education cooperation in Guangzhou, he called for expanded scholarships, joint research, academic exchanges and stronger cooperation in technical and vocational education between the two countries.

Mahdi said many Chinese universities are now leading in global rankings and scientific research, and Bangladesh wants to benefit from their best practices and advanced research culture, said a press release.

He said Bangladesh is keen to increase scholarship opportunities for talented Bangladeshi students at renowned Chinese universities and undertake joint research projects to improve access to modern laboratories and international academic resources.

The meeting focused on four key areas—study opportunities for Bangladeshi students in China, cooperation between universities, joint research, and technical education and skills development.

Mahdi said Bangladesh’s large working-age population is one of its greatest economic strengths, but the country’s education system has remained overly dependent on theoretical learning for many years.

He said the government is working to make education more practical and employment-oriented and plans to give greater priority to technical and vocational education.

The adviser also said the government is moving to make third-language learning compulsory to help young people compete globally, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman giving priority to Mandarin.

He stressed the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration and modern employment exchanges to better connect education with the job market.

Mahdi called for regular exchanges of teachers, researchers and students between Bangladesh and China, saying such programmes could create greater opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in China while allowing Chinese students to visit Bangladesh through exchange programmes and summer schools.

He also invited leading Chinese universities and technical institutions to explore opportunities in Bangladesh and develop joint academic degrees and long-term partnerships with Bangladeshi universities and colleges.

Mahdi welcomed the launch of the China-Bangladesh Industry and Education Integration International Service Centre and expressed hope that it would further strengthen educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon also spoke about the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and China and its continued development.

Officials and representatives of several leading Chinese universities, vocational and technical institutions, as well as Bangladesh’s education sector, attended the programme.

Mahdi Amin and Education Minister Milon are currently on a three-day official visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to attend programmes and discussions on technical and vocational education.