Dhaka, Beijing to Sign 15-17 Agreements During PM’s Visit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to China is expected to yield 15 to 17 bilateral agreements, alongside crucial discussions on the Teesta project. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam shared these details during a press briefing on Saturday ahead of the Prime Minister’s two-nation tour to Malaysia and China.

The expected agreements with China include 13 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), two formal agreements, an action plan, and a protocol.

The Prime Minister will depart for Kuala Lumpur on Sunday afternoon at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He will then head to China on Monday afternoon, invited by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

This marks the Prime Minister’s first foreign tour since the new government took office in February. Seeking to keep the trips focused and cost-effective, the official delegation has been limited to just 27 or 28 members.

"We have tried to keep it at a reasonable level," Siam noted. He emphasized that the tour is a key diplomatic effort to strengthen Bangladesh's economic partnerships, attract foreign investment, and enhance regional connectivity.

During the China leg of the tour, the Prime Minister will attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (Summer Davos) in Dalian, Liaoning Province, from June 23 to 25. Themed "Innovating at Scale," the forum will gather over 1,700 delegates from more than 90 countries to discuss global economic trends, tech advancements, and innovation-driven growth.

Following the forum, Prime Minister Rahman will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on June 25 and meet President Xi Jinping on June 26.

While the Malaysia visit will prioritize expanding trade, labor market cooperation, and investment opportunities, the China visit will focus heavily on infrastructure, technology, connectivity, and development.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Friday night.

Additional Foreign Secretary (Diplomacy and Priority Issues) AKM Shahidul Karim and other senior officials were also present at the briefing.