20 MoUs likely to be inked during PM's tour of China

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will depart Dhaka for Beijing on Monday for a four-day visit. During this visit, 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and China.

The MoUs will emphasise support in economic and banking sectors, trade and investment, the digital economy, infrastructural development, and disaster management.

Additionally, the instruments are likely to cover the construction of the sixth and ninth Bangladesh-China friendship bridges, the export of agricultural products from Bangladesh, and people-to-people connectivity.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud announced these plans at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

He stated that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a state visit to China from July 8 to 11 at the invitation of Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of China. She will be accompanied by the finance minister, foreign minister, prime minister's Private industry and investment adviser, state minister for commerce, state minister for energy and mineral resources, state minister for information and communication technology, foreign secretary, other secretaries, and relevant government officials.

Hasan Mahmud said that the prime minister will leave Dhaka on a special Bangladesh Biman flight at 11 am on Monday and arrive at Beijing International Airport at 6 pm local time the same day. Upon arrival, the prime minister will be given a guard of honor and received with due respect.

On the third day of the visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People on July 10. The meeting will begin with a reception in honour of the prime minister, followed by a bilateral meeting between high-level delegations from both countries.

During this meeting, approximately 20 MoUs are expected to be signed in the presence of the heads of government of both countries, along with announcements of some project inaugurations.

The foreign minister noted that the MoUs likely to be signed include agreements on financial and banking sectors, trade and investment, the digital economy, infrastructure development, disaster management, the construction of the sixth and ninth Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridges, the export of agricultural products from Bangladesh, and people-to-people connectivity.

The meeting will conclude with a banquet in honour of the prime minister at the Great Hall.

The prime minister is scheduled to leave China on a special Bangladesh Biman flight on July 11 and is expected to land in Dhaka at 2 pm local time that day.