New Chapter Begins in Bangladesh-China Technical Education Cooperation: Mahdi Amin

Emphasizing joint Bangladesh-China partnership in education, technical training and skills development, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education and Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin said such cooperation would take the diplomatic relations between the two countries to a new height. He made the remarks at the China-Bangladesh Education Exchange Conference held at Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University in China on Friday morning local time.

At the conference, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to establish a training center under the China-Bangladesh Vocational Education, Training and Research Center. Mahdi Amin said the initiative marked the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladesh-China cooperation in technical education. He said the goal was not merely to sign an MoU but to turn the cooperation into employment opportunities for young people.
“Our main objective is to transform education into skills, skills into employment and employment into opportunities,” he said. The MoU, he added, was not simply a document but a commitment to turn bilateral cooperation into practical opportunities for the people of both countries. An MoU becomes meaningful only when commitments are translated into implementation and results.

Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh remains committed to further strengthening the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and China under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He said the PM’s engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping reflected the shared commitment to building relations based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and a common future. He emphasized cooperation in scholarships, teacher training, teacher and student exchanges, curriculum development, industry linkages, modern technology and practical training. He also highlighted emerging fields such as digital technology, robotics and smart manufacturing.

The adviser stressed the need to connect classrooms with industries and education with employment so that young people learn not only to obtain degrees but also to build careers, innovate and prepare for the future. He expressed hope that international-standard technical education, joint scholarships, teacher training and faculty exchanges would create effective opportunities for young people to participate in the global economy.
Praising the Chinese government’s hospitality, Mahdi Amin said the two countries should move from discussion to action, cooperation to implementation and shared aspirations to shared results. He expressed hope that the partnership would create skills, employment and diverse opportunities for future generations while turning young people into a strong bridge between Bangladesh and China.

On behalf of Bangladesh, Secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division of the Ministry of Education Md. Daud Mia signed the MoU, while Professor Zheng Pengwu, Vice President of Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, signed on behalf of China. Under the MoU, both sides expressed interest in cooperating on vocational training programs, bilingual educational materials, educational resources, research centers for vocational education, education-industry integration, industrial training in Bangladesh, study visits to China, and specialized training programs for vocational education administrators. Cooperation with Chinese-invested companies in Bangladesh will also be considered to strengthen practical training opportunities.
A major highlight of the conference was the unveiling of three international education and research centers. The China-Bangladesh Vocational Teacher Training Center was inaugurated by Education Minister Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milan and Fan Honghui. The Bangladesh Vocational Education Research Center at Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University was inaugurated by Mahdi Amin and Professor Pei Hongwei. The Bangladesh “Chinese Language + Skill Development” Cooperation Center was inaugurated by Md. Daud Mia and Professor Zheng Pengwu. These initiatives are expected to create new opportunities for teacher training, practical training for students, industry links during the final semester, curriculum development, research cooperation, teacher and student exchanges, Chinese language and vocational education, industry-oriented training and employment-focused skills development in Bangladesh.

Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milan praised China’s achievements in education, technology, technical training and industrial development. He said Bangladesh was deeply interested in learning from China’s experience in developing a modern, industry-linked vocational education system and applying relevant practices according to Bangladesh’s needs. He said Bangladesh has a large and capable young population, which is one of the country’s greatest strengths. With quality technical education, practical training and modern skills, this young generation can become a highly skilled, productive and globally competitive workforce capable of contributing significantly to the country’s future economic and industrial development.

The minister stressed that technical and vocational education must be closely linked to the actual needs of industries and the employment market. He called for stronger cooperation between Bangladeshi and Chinese educational institutions in curriculum development, technical and vocational training, teacher capacity building, institutional partnerships, modern technology, practical education and employment-oriented learning. He also emphasized creating opportunities for students to acquire both academic knowledge and practical skills before entering the workforce. He expressed hope that continued Bangladesh-China cooperation in education and skills development would contribute to the country’s long-term human resource development and create greater opportunities for future generations.

Senior Chinese participants included Fan Honghui, Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education; Wu Zuowen, Director of the International Office; Professor Pei Hongwei, Party Secretary of Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University; and Professor Zheng Pengwu, Vice President of the university. Representatives of renowned Chinese educational institutions, teachers, researchers, students and leading entrepreneurs also attended the conference.

Representatives from 19 internationally recognized Chinese universities and technical institutes participated in the event. Among them were Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang University, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang Hangkong University, Jiangxi Vocational University of Foreign Studies, Jiujiang Vocational University, Jiangxi Industry Polytechnic College, Jiangxi Vocational Technical College of Industry and Trade, Jiangxi Institute of Construction, Jiangxi Water Resources Institute, Jiangxi Wuyuan Tea Vocational College, Jiangxi Modern Polytechnic College and Jiangxi Biotechnology Vocational College, along with other educational institutions from Jiangxi Province.

The conference, the MoU and the three newly established cooperation platforms are expected to serve as important steps toward long-term Bangladesh-China partnership in vocational education, skills development, research and industry-education integration. The cooperation is expected to strengthen the connection between education, practical skills, industrial requirements and future employment opportunities for Bangladesh’s young generation.
At the invitation of the Chinese government, Education Minister Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milan and Prime Minister’s Adviser and Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin are currently on a three-day official visit to China to participate in various programs and discussions on technical and vocational education.