Students set to embark on 3rd Bangladesh-China friendship tour to China's Yunnan

An orientation program was organized here Thursday for students participating in the 3rd Bangladesh-China Youth Camp to be held later this month in China's southwestern province of Yunnan.

More than 100 Bangladeshi students will pay a two-week visit, the third of its kind, to the Chinese province under the China-Bangladesh Youth Exchange Program. The second edition was also held in Yunnan in 2018.

Students selected from various educational institutions from different parts of Bangladesh will visit prominent cultural and historical sites, top educational institutions in Yunnan.

During the orientation program organized by the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, officials and student representatives including those from Dhaka University, North South University briefed the students about the visit.

Speaking on the occasion, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming expressed the hope that the students could take this opportunity to get a close look at China, experience Chinese culture, make Chinese friends, and become envoys for China-Bangladesh friendship.

Between 2017 and 2018, there were already 300 of them who visited China under the youth camp.

After coming back from previous trips, they started to closely follow the development and changes about China, and initiated chatting groups on WeChat or WhatsApp to share their wonderful experiences and feelings about China, the ambassador said.

"As a person born and raised in Yunnan province, I want to say that this year's youth camp is just as exciting and interesting as usual. During your visit, you're going to see the tranquil and beautiful capital city of Kunming, the charming ancient town of Dali, the diversified ethnic cultures as well as the warm and welcoming people in Yunnan," said Li.

Apart from the scenic views, he said there will also be lessons on the Chinese language, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese martial arts, and an experiencing session in local primary and middle schools arranged by Yunnan University.

At the beginning of this July, the ambassador said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a successful state visit to China. The frequent high level visits between our two countries have injected new momentum and vitality into China-Bangladesh friendship.

The year 2020 will commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Bangladesh diplomatic ties. It comes with great significance and profound impact that this camp members are visiting China at such a critical time in the history of the development of China-Bangladesh relations, said the ambassador.

Editor: John Li