Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to China today on a four-day visit. His visit was at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. As many as 20 MoUs may be signed between Bangladesh and China in various sectors during the visit. Notable among these are economic and banking sectors, trade and investment, digital economy, infrastructural development, assistance in disaster management etc., construction of 6th and 9th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, export of agricultural products from Bangladesh, disaster management and people to people connectivity sectors.
Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud officially announced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to China in a press conference on Sunday.
The foreign minister said that Bangladesh would seek China’s assistance in terms of investment and trade in Bangladesh, financial assistance and repatriation of Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh. At the same time, Bangladesh will provide support to China as a friend of China in the global context. It should be noted that Bangladesh has received three billion dollar loan from China in the last four years. In addition, China’s investment in Bangladesh is seven billion dollars.
Finance Minister Abul Ahsan Mahmud Ali, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Tito, State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak, Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen, other secretaries and other high level government officials are accompanying the tour. will be
The Prime Minister will leave Bangladesh on a special flight of Bangladesh Biman today at 11 am. On the same day, will land at Beijing International Airport at 6 pm local time of China. There the Prime Minister will be given a guard of honor and received with due respect. On the morning of July 9, the Prime Minister will have a courtesy meeting with the President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Jean Likun. On the same day, the Prime Minister will participate in the ‘Summit on Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and China’ held at Sang-Gri-La Circle. A business delegation from Bangladesh will visit China to participate in the conference. At noon on that day, the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with the Chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wang Huying. This afternoon, the Prime Minister will pay his respects at the traditional Tien Anmen Square. At night, he will attend a dinner hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing. On the third day of July 10, the Prime Minister will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People. A reception was organized in honor of the Prime Minister at the beginning of the meeting. At the same place, the Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier (Premier of the State Council) will meet in a bilateral meeting along with high-level delegations from the two countries. After that, about 20 MoUs may be signed in the presence of the heads of government of the two countries and the inauguration of some projects will be announced. The said meeting will be formalized in the Great Hall with a banquet in honor of the Prime Minister. In the afternoon of July 10, the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. Bangladesh and China will issue a joint statement on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that Bangladesh-China bilateral relations started even before independence with the historic visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in 1952. At that time, the father of the nation met the then leader of China, Mao Zedong. In the light of that experience, Bangabandhu wrote the book ‘Amar Deha Nayachin’. China recognized Bangladesh in 1975, following which the two countries have been progressing on the path of development based on mutual cooperation. During Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka in 2016, the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to a ‘Strategic Cooperation Partnership’. After winning the 12th National Assembly elections held on January 7 and being re-elected as Prime Minister, the Prime Minister was officially invited by China for an official visit. China is committed to acting as an important partner in Bangladesh’s infrastructural and economic development.