As many as 20 to 22 MoUs are likely to be signed during the upcoming visit to China: Foreign Minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to sign 20 to 22 MoUs during her upcoming visit to China. Apart from this, some development projects will be discussed. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hasan Mahmud informed this information.

The minister said that the Prime Minister will visit China from July 8 to 11. Hazrat Shahjalal will depart from Shahjalal International Airport at 11am on Monday (July 8), arriving in Beijing at 6pm local time.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, the development of Bangladesh will be given importance in this visit. Our relationship with China is very deep. It has strategic relations with the country. This visit is important for us.

In response to a question whether the Teesta project will be discussed during the Prime Minister’s visit to China, the minister said that if China shows interest in the Teesta issue, there will be a discussion.

He said, Teesta is a joint river of India and Bangladesh. India has offered us the Teesta project. We are currently reviewing it.
In response to the question whether budget assistance will be taken from China or not, the minister said that there will be a compromise agreement on economic cooperation with China during this visit. Future discussions will be based on this.

In response to another question in this regard, he said, we take cooperation based on our needs and review our parameters. The World Bank wanted to come back after withdrawing from the Padma Bridge, but we did not accept it.

In response to the question whether Bangladesh will offer offshore banking to China or not, the minister said that offshore banking is open for all. Any country can deposit money in our central bank if it wants. For example, many countries can keep money in the central bank of the United States. However, offshore banking is a slightly different matter.

An agreement was reached with China regarding the development of Mongla port, the Minister said in response to a question regarding whether the responsibility of implementing this project will be given to China, we are in discussions with China regarding the development of Mongla port. I hope that the matter will be discussed during this visit.

We have trade relations with China. The more we do from the country, the less we export. We are planning to increase the export of our products.

In the briefing, the minister 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. When the Father of the Nation met the then leader of China, Mao Tse-tung. 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 advancing 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 being an important partner in Bangladesh’s infrastructural and economic development.

He said 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.

The minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay an official visit to China on July 8-11 at the invitation of Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang.

During the Prime Minister’s visit to China, the Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser, State Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, State Minister of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, State Minister of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Foreign Secretary, other secretaries will be accompanying the government officials.

Regarding the Prime Minister’s schedule, the Foreign Minister said that for the purpose of the visit, the Prime Minister will leave Bangladesh on a special flight of Bangladesh Biman at 11 am on July 8. 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 the 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 Wang Heuning, Chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). This afternoon the Prime Minister will pay his respects at the traditional Tiananmen Square. At night, he will attend a dinner hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing.

On the third day of the visit on July 10, the Prime Minister will meet Premier of the State Council of China 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 Premier of the State Council of China will meet in a bilateral meeting with high-level delegations from the two countries. After this, about 20 to 22 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. There is a possibility of signing MoUs on financial and banking sectors, trade and investment, digital economy, infrastructure development, assistance in disaster management, construction of 6th and 9th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, export of agricultural products from Bangladesh, disaster management, people-to-people connectivity, etc. . 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. The Prime Minister will leave China on a special Bangladesh Biman flight on July 11 and land in Dhaka at 2 pm.