Dhaka, Beijing likely to sign around 20 MoUs: Hasan Mahmud

Bangladesh and China are likely to sign around 20 MoUs and make announcements on some development projects during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to China that begins on Monday.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud came up with the updates while briefing the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon, reports UNB. 

“Bangladesh will seek China's assistance in the areas of investment and trade; financial assistance and repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland. At the same time, Bangladesh will continue to provide support to China as its friend in the global context,” he said.

Hasan expressed optimism that the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister to China will be successful and fruitful.

Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said will reach an "important consensus" and sign multiple cooperation documents and MoUs in a number of areas during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to Beijing.

The areas are infrastructure, free trade agreement, and agricultural product exports to China, Southern Bangladesh’s development, the digital economy, disaster prevention, poverty alleviation, clean energy, healthcare, education and cultural exchanges.

At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay the visit which is expected to "outline a new blueprint for practical cooperation" in various fields and provide an opportunity for the two countries to coordinate their positions on regional and international affairs.

Through this visit, the two sides will achieve new breakthroughs in pragmatic cooperation, bringing more benefits to the people of both countries, said the Ambassador who termed the forthcoming visit a milestone in bilateral relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday said this will be Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's first visit to China since her new term began and five years after her last visit to China.

During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Premier Li Qiang will hold a welcoming ceremony and have talks with her.

The two prime ministers will attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents.

"Leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on how to deepen traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation and on regional and international issues of mutual interest," said the spokesperson.

Prime Minister Hasina will also attend the Summit on Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities between China and Bangladesh, she said.

"We have similar visions for development and well-aligned development strategies. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, the two countries have treated each other with respect and equality, engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation, supported each other on issues concerning our respective core interests, and jointly advanced modernization," said the spokesperson.

She said they have set a good example of friendship and cooperation between developing countries.

In recent years, with the strategic guidance and commitment of the leaders of our two countries, the two sides have deepened the Bangladesh-China strategic cooperative partnership, and had fruitful and practical cooperation in various fields.

"China stands ready to work with Bangladesh through this visit to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen political mutual trust, further synergize development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, and elevate our bilateral relations to a new level," said the spokesperson.

The Chinese side said it stands ready to take this visit as an opportunity to further deepen political mutual trust between the two countries, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, consolidate traditional friendship, and work together to realise the Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation and Bangladesh’s “Vision 2041.”