A six-member high-level delegation from the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) met Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at the party’s central office today for a courtesy call and exchange of views.
The delegation was led by CPIFA Vice President and former Ambassador Zhou Pingjian and included senior officials and researchers from CPIFA, Peking University’s South Asian Studies Center, and the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka. On the Bangladeshi side, Jamaat’s Secretary General, central executive members and advisers were present.
Speaking at a briefing after the meeting, Jamaat leaders said discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere on Bangladesh-China relations, regional politics, future economic cooperation and the party’s approach to elections. They highlighted Jamaat-e-Islami’s interest in strengthening “brotherly” relations with China and exploring development and investment opportunities between the two countries.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, meeting foreign guests for the first time since recovering from illness, expressed his gratitude and underscored the importance of learning from China’s development experience for Bangladesh’s progress.
The Chinese delegation noted that China’s long-term plans for modernization and development are aimed at deepening partnerships with international stakeholders, and that Bangladesh is viewed as a significant future partner.
According to Jamaat leaders, the two sides also exchanged views on Bangladesh’s political situation, Jamaat’s participation in upcoming elections, democratic processes, human rights and international issues. The party reiterated that it remains committed to democracy and is preparing to take part in elections.
The delegation thanked Jamaat for attending the recent celebration of the 50th anniversary of China’s diplomatic presence in Bangladesh, organized by the Chinese Embassy. Both parties expressed optimism about expanding party-to-party as well as government-to-government cooperation.
