Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today left here for Beijing
on a four-day bilateral visit at invitation of her Chinese counterpart.
The
visit is believed to elevate the relations between Bangladesh and China to
"comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" from
"strategic partnership".
A
special flight (BG1701) of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the prime
minister and her entourage members, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport at 11:05 am.
The
flight is scheduled to land at the Beijing Capital International Airport at 6
in the afternoon (Beijing time).
During
her stay in Beijing from July 8 to 11, the Bangladesh prime minister will have
a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping alongside a delegation level
bilateral meeting with her Chinese Counterpart Li Qiang on July 10.
Bangladesh
and China are likely to sign 20 to 22 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)
during the premier's four-day visit.
"The
MoUs on cooperation in the economic and banking sector, trade and investment,
digital economy, infrastructure development, assistance in disaster management,
construction of 6th and 9th Bangladesh-China friendship bridges, export of
agricultural products from Bangladesh and people to people connectivity are
likely to be signed," Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Sunday at a
curtain raiser press conference at the Foreign Ministry here.
During
the visit, Hasan said inauguration of a number of projects of the two countries
will also be announced.
Chinese
President Xi Jinping visited Bangladesh in October, 2016 when the relationship
between the two countries had reached a strategic partnership.
Bangladesh
Premier Sheikh Hasina last visited Beijing in July, 2019. She also visited
China on multiple prior occasions.
The
two countries would celebrate the golden jubilee of the diplomatic relations
next year.
This
visit of the Bangladesh premier to China is going to take place within 15 days
after her last visit to India from June 21 to 22.
On
July 9, the second day of Sheikh Hasina's visit to China, President of Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun will pay a courtesy call on her
at the Meeting Room, of her Place of Residence.
Afterwards,
the prime minister will join a summit on Trade, Business and Investment
Opportunities between Bangladesh and China at the China World Summit Wing,
Shangri-La Circle, Beijing, China.
In
the afternoon, a meeting is scheduled to be held between the Bangladesh premier
and the Consultative Party president at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.
The
prime minister will later place a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes
at Tiananmen Square.
In
the evening, she will attend a dinner hosted in her honour by Ambassador of
Bangladesh to China at Bangladesh House in Beijing.
On
July 10, a delegation level bilateral meeting led by Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina and Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang will be held
at the Great Hall of the People where numerous documents that include
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed in presence of them.
She
will later attend a welcome banquet (lunch) in honour of her hosted by the
premier of the State Council of China at the same venue.
In
the afternoon on July 10, the Bangladesh prime minister will pay a call on
Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.
Concluding
the visit to China, Sheikh Hasina will depart from Beijing Capital
International Airport for home at 11am (Beijing time) on July 11 by a special
flight (BG1704) of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The
flight is scheduled to land at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport,
Dhaka at 2pm (BD time) the same day.