Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, currently on an official visit to China, highlighted narrowing the trade gap and enhancing regional connectivity to promote equitable growth.
He made these remarks during a keynote address at the "Our Shared Vision for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity" seminar at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS).
Hossain stressed the importance of economic cooperation for sustainable development and global stability.
He highlighted that peace and security are collective responsibilities requiring inclusive economic frameworks, with a focus on empowering underrepresented groups, particularly youth and women.
On the Rohingya crisis, Hossain said about the need for a conducive environment in Rakhine State for the safe return of refugees, focusing on the shared interests of Bangladesh and China in resolving the issue.
Reflecting on the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and China, Hossain lauded China's contributions to Bangladesh's socio-economic development, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
He also praised Bangladesh's successful social initiatives, such as microcredit programs, which have empowered rural women and fostered social harmony.
In a separate engagement, Hossain visited a high-tech electric vehicle (EV) plant in Shanghai, producing around 500 EVs daily, and urged Chinese companies to consider setting up an EV manufacturing plant in Bangladesh.
He also met with the Acting Mayor of Shanghai, discussing enhanced business-to-business and people-to-people exchanges between Dhaka and Shanghai.
The Mayor extended an invitation for Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming "Shanghai Tourism Festival".
Hossain further engaged with a delegation from the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce, focusing on relocating Chinese manufacturing plants to Bangladesh, particularly in the Chinese Special Economic Zone in Chittagong and establishing air connectivity between Chittagong and Shanghai.
The event concluded with remarks from Bangladesh's Ambassador to China, Md Nazmul Islam and fostered discussions on economic globalization, regional stability and furthering Bangladesh-China collaboration.
Hossain is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on Friday.
