Photo : Collected

DHAKA, June 13, 2026 (BSS) – A four-member parliamentary delegation, led by Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Barrister Kayser Kamal, returned to Dhaka today after completing a four-day official visit to China’s Yunnan Province.

The delegation arrived in Dhaka at 2:00 pm (Bangladesh time) today.

Prior to their departure from Kunming, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province Yuan Fang bid farewell to the delegation with VIP protocol at Kunming International Airport. The delegation left Kunming for Dhaka aboard a China Eastern Airlines flight at 12:25 pm local time.

During the visit, the Deputy Speaker attended the opening ceremony of the 7th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum in Kunming as an invited guest at the invitation of the Governor of Yunnan Province. Representing Bangladesh, he delivered a speech highlighting the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and economic connectivity.

Other speakers at the forum included Yunnan Governor Wang Yubo, Vice Chairperson of Nepal’s National Assembly Laila Kumari Bhandari, Maldives Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam, Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, SAARC Secretary-General Md. Golam Sarwar, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi, said a press release.

The Deputy Speaker also participated as a special guest in the 10th China-South Asia Exposition. Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir addressed the opening ceremony on behalf of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is serving as the Theme Country at this year’s exposition, with 84 Bangladeshi pavilions showcasing local products. The international trade fair, which runs in Kunming until June 16, has attracted participation from 68 countries.

During the visit, Barrister Kayser Kamal held separate meetings with senior Chinese leaders, including Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress He Wei, Yunnan Communist Party Secretary Wang Ning, and Yunnan Governor Wang Yubo.

In the bilateral meetings, the Deputy Speaker proposed the construction of a direct Kunming-Chattogram connectivity corridor and sought continued Chinese cooperation in the Teesta Barrage project. 

He also called for enhanced Chinese support in education, healthcare, agriculture, industry, economic zones, transport modernization and infrastructure development.

Referring to the upcoming visit of Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to China later this month, the Deputy Speaker said the present government, under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, would continue to attach high priority to Bangladesh-China relations, following the policies pursued during the administrations of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Chinese leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with Bangladesh’s democratic government and expressed optimism about expanding cooperation in various development sectors. They also described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s forthcoming China visit as ‘highly significant’.

The Chinese side expressed hope that the Deputy Speaker’s visit would contribute to increased Chinese investment in Bangladesh, stronger bilateral diplomatic relations, and expanded cooperation in healthcare, education, industry, modern transportation and trade.

Before departing for the airport, the Deputy Speaker visited a pilot project showcasing Yunnan Province’s driverless future transportation system.

Officials briefed the delegation on Yunnan’s vision for a smart, green, safe and integrated transportation network under its “Digital Yunnan” initiative. 

The programme incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), big data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in transport management, including real-time traffic monitoring, smart traffic signal control, accident detection and rapid response systems, integrated passenger information services, and expanded e-toll and digital payment facilities.

Other members of the parliamentary delegation were NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, BNP lawmaker Engineer Khaled Hossain Mahbub, and Independent Reserved Seat MP Jesmin Sultana Jui.