PM Hasina to have meetings with Chinese president, premier Wednesday

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of her four-day visit to China.

The Bangladesh prime minister will engage in a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at 4 PM (local time) at the Great Hall of the People. This meeting is scheduled to last for 40 minutes, according to sources in the Bangladesh foreign ministry. This follows their recent discussions on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The landmark visit of President Xi to Bangladesh in 2016 elevated bilateral relations to the level of "Strategic Partnership of Cooperation."

Prime Minister Hasina will also hold a delegation-level bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang, at the Great Hall of the People. This meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:15 AM on Wednesday and will last for 45 minutes. Following this, Bangladesh and China are likely to sign and renew 20 to 22 memorandums of understanding (MoUs).

"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," stated Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud at a press conference on Sunday.

During her visit, several projects between the two countries will be inaugurated. In her meetings with Xi Jinping and Li Qiang, a wide range of bilateral, regional, and international matters will be discussed, with a focus on the Rohingya issue, business, trade, commerce, and development cooperation.

Prime Minister Hasina will also attend a banquet hosted by the Chinese premier at the same venue.

Arriving in Beijing on Monday afternoon, this is Prime Minister Hasina's fourth visit to China, having previously visited in 2010, 2014, and 2019. The visit is expected to elevate the relations between Bangladesh and China to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" from the current "strategic partnership." The two countries are set to celebrate the golden jubilee of their diplomatic relations next year.

This visit comes shortly after Prime Minister Hasina's recent visit to India from June 21 to 22. Notably, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited China twice, in 1952 and 1957, where he met with great leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou En Lai. He later authored a book titled "Amar Dekha Naya Chin" (The New China as I Saw), reflecting his admiration for Chinese leadership and their policies.

Source: BSS