On the morning of October 16, 2025, Iqbal Ahmed, Director General of the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh, led the second delegation of Bangladeshi diplomats to China for the 2025 training program to visit the Center for South Asian Studies at Peking University. The event was attended by Associate Professor Wang Xu, Executive Deputy Director of the Center; Associate Professor Zhang Xing, Head of the Bengali Language Teaching and Research Section; Zhang Yabing, Head of the Urdu Language Teaching and Research Section; and student representatives from the Department of South Asian Studies.

The event began with Associate Professor Zhang Xing delivering a welcome speech in Bengali, expressing a warm welcome to the delegation. Subsequently, Associate Professor Wang Xu gave a special lecture titled “People-Centered Economic Development on National Security: Experience of China for Bangladesh.” Starting from China’s development practices, he systematically elaborated on how the people-centered economic development philosophy deeply integrates with the national security system. He also analyzed the important reference value of this model for Global South countries in achieving sustainable development amid the current turbulent and transformative international landscape. Professor Wang emphasized that China’s adherence to a people-centered development approach has effectively fostered a positive interaction between economic prosperity and social stability. This practical experience offers valuable insights for developing countries like Bangladesh in addressing internal and external challenges and exploring development paths suited to their national conditions.

Associate Professor Wang Xu delivering the lecture

During the exchange session, members of the Bangladeshi delegation shared their observations and reflections from their visit to China. Both sides engaged in lively and in-depth discussions on the practical implementation of the people-centered development philosophy. In his response, Professor Wang emphasized that the Communist Party of China consistently upholds the people-centered development philosophy, ensuring that national policies genuinely reflect public opinion, pool collective wisdom, and ultimately translate into governance outcomes that serve the people’s well-being. He further pointed out that the important notion that “stability overrides everything, and development is the hard truth” profoundly reflects China’s political wisdom in balancing reform, development, and stability during its modernization process.

Exchange session

In his concluding remarks, delegation leader Iqbal Ahmed stated that the development path explored by China through practice offers important insights for developing countries, including Bangladesh, in advancing the modernization of national governance. Against the backdrop of profound transformations in the current global landscape, countries should strengthen mutual learning in governance experiences and jointly explore inclusive and sustainable development models. This lecture and exchange activity not only deepened mutual understanding between China and Bangladesh regarding development philosophies but also laid a solid foundation for future academic and policy cooperation between the two countries. The event concluded successfully in a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Delegation leader Iqbal Ahmed delivering concluding remarks

Delegation leader Iqbal Ahmed presenting a gift to the Center for South Asian Studies at Peking University

Group photo

Contributed by: Cen Siyi

Photographer: Chen Qiyuan