DHAKA, Oct. 13 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Bangladesh will provide a massive boost not only for the country, but also for the region, a senior academic has said.

AAMS Arefin Siddique, the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University (DU), which is the country's oldest and most prestigious university, made the comments here in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"With Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, I'm sure that these two countries will move forward along with the entire Asian region," Siddique said, adding that China and Asia are inextricably linked in development.

The vice-chancellor stressed that Bangladesh-China relations in various sectors including academic, agriculture, business and trade, will be further cemented, developed and strengthened.

All of this underscores the overwhelming significance of the Chinese president's visit to Bangladesh, he said, adding that Dhaka University teachers and students are closely following the upcoming visit of the Chinese president.

Meanwhile, he mentioned that from this academic year, Dhaka University will start a four-year graduation course in Chinese language.

"We are going to build an academic bridge between Bangladesh and China and I strongly believe that through this summit visit of the Chinese president, bilateral relations between China and Bangladesh will be further strengthened."

"Such relations are indispensable for both sides," the vice-chancellor said, noting that traditional relationship and bonds between Bangladesh and China are historical ones.

"We still remember the ancient Silk Road between Bangladesh and China and this road passed through this region," said Siddique.

"Right from our independence we have received great support from our Chinese friends," he said, noting that the Chinese president's visit will pave the way for Bangladesh to have more Chinese support in the future.

"I have no doubt that this visit will bring Bangladesh and China closer to each other as nations and as friends," he stressed.