The China–South Asia Center for Socio-Cultural Studies (CSCSS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), North South University (NSU), hosts a delegation from the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences (YASS), China, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at NSU, a press release said.
The delegation was led by Professor Yang Zhengquan, President of Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences (YASS). Other members of the delegation included Professor Guo Na, Director, Institute for Bangladesh Studies, YASS; Associate Professor Lin Yanming, Director, Institute for Indian Studies, YASS; and Associate Professor Guo Suiyan, Institute for Bangladesh Studies, YASS.
The visit began with a courtesy meeting with Professor Nasar U. Ahmed, Pro-Vice Chancellor of NSU. This was followed by lunch and informal discussion at the Faculty Lounge and a formal discussion on academic partnership and collaboration between YASS and CSCSS, SIPG, NSU at the SIPG Conference Room. The visit concluded with a campus tour and group photo session at NSU.
During the discussion, Professor Yang Zhengquan proposed a university-wide Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between YASS and NSU to create a broader framework for institutional cooperation. He emphasized that the proposed collaboration could focus on joint research, young scholar training, field investigations in Bangladesh, and academic work on international studies, politics, history, culture, and ethnicity. He also noted that YASS’s research interest extends beyond individual countries to broader strategic regions, including Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, where Bangladesh holds significant geopolitical and economic importance.
Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Director of SIPG and CSCSS, NSU, highlighted the history of CSCSS, its growing academic engagement with China and South Asia, and the importance of research on the BCIM region. He proposed the Indian Ocean as a key research priority and emphasized the need for joint seminars, research initiatives, and training workshops on China-South Asia relations, the Bay of Bengal, regional connectivity, and energy security.
Dr. S. M. Rubyat, Coordinator of CSCSS and Assistant Professor at NSU, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed CSCSS’s commitment to promoting China-South Asia intellectual exchange, socio-cultural research, and institutional collaboration. He emphasized that CSCSS aims to serve as a platform for academic dialogue and policy-oriented research between Bangladesh, China, and the broader South Asian region.
Ambassador (Retd.) Mohammad Sufiur Rahman, Senior Research Fellow at SIPG, identified strategic and economic issues in the Bay of Bengal as a priority area for future collaboration. He suggested that Bangladesh and China could jointly study regional power, perception, and strategic shifts, including the evolving limits and perceptions of United States power in the region. He also noted that YASS could facilitate academic visits to Yunnan, where visiting scholars may deliver lectures and participate in interaction sessions with prior coordination.
Professor Bulbul Ashraf Siddiqi, Director of the Confucius Institute at NSU, proposed the development of young scholar exchanges, flexible short-term training programs, and joint publications in Bangladeshi and Chinese media. He also suggested organizing webinars and policy dialogues to analyze major diplomatic visits and contemporary issues in Bangladesh–China relations.
Professor Mohammed Nuruzzaman highlighted the importance of formal institutional agreements before launching major collaborative activities. He noted that joint external funding, short-term fellowships, and collaborative research could create practical opportunities for scholars from both institutions.
Dr. Rizwan Khair emphasized the value of learning from China’s governance and bureaucracy, trade, investment, and energy management experiences. He noted that such knowledge could support public policy planning, economic forecasting, and strategic understanding of Bangladesh–China relations.
The discussion focused on university-wide collaboration, joint research, young scholar training, short-term fellowships, field-based studies, academic visits, policy dialogue, and knowledge exchange. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of YASS and CSCSS, SIPG, NSU to strengthening Bangladesh–China academic cooperation, cross-border research collaboration, and people-to-people connectivity.
