Shan Zhiwei (R) and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (L) discuss cooperation in higher education.

A delegation led by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), visited Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) on June 26, where they toured XJTU's Western Relocation History Museum and held discussions with faculty and student representatives.

Shan Zhiwei, vice-president of XJTU, provided an overview of the university's development, emphasizing that, since its founding in 1896 as Nanyang Mission College, XJTU has upheld the historic mission of revitalizing the nation through education.

Shan introduced XJTU's initiatives, including the creation of iHarbour, the establishment of the University Alliance of the Silk Road, and its role as the Chinese executive office for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization University.

He highlighted that 2024 marks the "China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchanges" and hopes for deeper collaboration with Bangladesh in cultural exchanges, talent development, and industry-university-research partnerships, contributing to the enduring stability of China-Bangladesh relations.

Alamgir praised XJTU as an exemplar of Chinese higher education serving national development. He expressed admiration for the university's embodiment of the Western Relocation Spirit in its practices and affirmed the BNP's commitment to enhancing mutual understanding through party-to-party exchanges, deepening higher education cooperation, and further enhancing friendship between Bangladesh and China.