Chinese language program launched for Bangladeshi diplomats

The opening ceremony for the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh Chinese language training class is held online on May 18. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

The Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh Chinese language training class started on May 18 – jointly hosted by Yunnan University or YNU, the Confucius Institute at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh and the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh.

More than 30 people attended the online opening ceremony. They included Li Jiming, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, dean of the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh, Li Chenyang, executive vice-president of YNU and teacher and student representatives from the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh.

Running for half a year, the online program will offer Chinese language immersion education, enabling young Bangladeshi diplomats to master basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, so they can perform simple daily communications.

In addition, lectures on the Chinese environment, history and culture, poverty alleviation, education and other topics will be offered, to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Li Chenyang, on behalf of YNU, said that the Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka was established in October 2016 and it had since contributed considerably to promoting the Chinese language in Bangladesh and developing the friendship between the two countries. He expressed the hope that the training program would deepen the existing partnership between the two sides.

Ambassador Li Jiming said that the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh was the best place in the country to cultivate diplomats, while YNU was one of the best comprehensive universities in China. The cooperation between the two sides would open a window for Bangladeshi diplomats to get to know China up close, he said.

The ambassador said he also hoped students of the program would seize the opportunity to study hard and make more contributions to strengthening bilateral exchanges in the future.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury said at the ceremony that the two countries were enjoying deeper cooperation in multiple areas – including trade, investment, infrastructure, education and culture – but only limited numbers of Bangladeshi diplomats spoke Chinese.

The Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh dean said that was why he was promoting the training of the Chinese language.