Bangladesh, China expected to sign up to 17 agreements

Bangladesh and China are expected to sign up to 17 agreements and cooperation documents during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's official visit to China from June 22 to 26, with discussions set to focus on investment, river management, and broader strategic cooperation.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the two sides are expected to sign 13 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), two agreements, one action plan, and one protocol note during the visit. The Prime Minister will hold separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, while also attending the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, widely known as the Summer Davos Forum, in Dalian.

The visit is expected to cover a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade, investment, infrastructure, and integrated river management. Siam said Bangladesh will raise the Teesta Master Plan during discussions, although no agreement related to the project is expected to be signed during this visit. He also noted that Bangladesh is considering joining China's Global Development Initiative (GDI) and other global initiatives proposed by President Xi, with a final decision expected after the visit.

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During the Beijing leg of the tour, the Prime Minister will attend the Bangladesh Investment Forum and meet senior executives from leading Chinese companies to encourage investment in Bangladesh. He is also scheduled to hold talks with senior Chinese officials and witness the signing of bilateral documents before returning to Dhaka on June 26.