Foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said Bangladesh and China are likely to sign 20 to 22 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s four-day bilateral Beijing visit starting today. 

"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," he added. 

The foreign minister revealed this at a curtain raiser press conference at the Foreign Ministry here on the Prime Minister's scheduled China visit from July 8 to 11.

During the visit, Hasan said, inauguration of a number of projects of the two countries will also be announced. 

He said Dhaka will seek China's assistance in several areas, including trade and investment in Bangladesh, financial assistance and repatriation of forcibly replaced Rohingya people to their homeland Myanmar. 

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is paying the bilateral state visit to Beijing at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. 

The foreign minister said Bangladesh’s development issue and economic cooperation between Dhaka and China will get priority during the Prime Minister’s visit.

“Bangladesh and China maintain deep relations and this visit will further strengthen and widen the ties (between Dhaka and Beijing),” he said.

Responding to a question, he said, there will be no agreements but only MoUs will be signed between the two countries.

Hasan said the Bangladesh delegation will give importance to finding out ways to reduce the huge trade gap with China.

He said that Dhaka would urge Beijing to encourage its importers to take different products especially the agro goods from Bangladesh to reduce the trade deficit.

Responding to a question on Teesta river project, Hasan said Teesta is a joint river between Bangladesh and India and New Delhi gave a proposal on Teesta river management which is good.  

"As we received a proposal from the country (India) with which we share the Teesta River, we will naturally consider that first," he said.

Besides, he said, China also gave Bangladesh a proposal regarding Teesta river development that is good as well.

During the visit, he said, “if China raises the Teesta Issue, we will discuss”.   

Answering to another query, the foreign minister said Dhaka and Beijing may also discuss on probable Chinese cooperation regarding the development of the southern part of Bangladesh  

Responding to another question, Hasan said the renewal of the MoU between Bangladesh Awami League and Communist Party of China (CPC) may take place later, instead of during this visit.

He said a high-level AL delegation led by a presidium member will go to China later when the MoU can be renewed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Haisna will leave here tomorrow at 11:00am by a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and land at the Beijing International Airport at 6:00pm (local time) on the same day.

Bangladesh premier will be given a guard of honor and received with due respect at the Beijing airport.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, State minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and other high officials, among others.

On July 9, the Prime Minister will have a meeting with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President and Chair of the Board of Directors Jin Liqun.  

On the same day, the Prime Minister will participate in the Shangri-La conference titled "Summit on Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and China."

A business delegation from Bangladesh will visit China to participate in the conference.

The Prime Minister will also hold a meeting with  14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Chairman Wang Huning.

On July 10, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet the Chinese Premier of the state council Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People.

A reception will be organized in honor of the Prime Minister at the beginning of the meeting.

At the same place, the Prime Minister and Premier of the state council of China will hold a bilateral meeting with high-level delegations from the two countries.

The MoUs are likely to be signed in presence of the two leaders and inauguration of some projects will be announced.

The meeting will be followed by a banquet in honor of the Prime Minister, Hasan said.

He said, in the afternoon of July 10, the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

Bangladesh and China will issue a joint statement on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister, he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay her tribute to the traditional Tiananmen Square.

She will also attend a dinner hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing, Hasan said.

On July 11, the Premier will leave China by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines special flight and is scheduled to land in Dhaka at 2:00 pm.