PM leaves for China

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Dalian today on a five-day bilateral official visit to China at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines' special flight (BG1720) carrying the prime minister and her entourage members departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Hsia), Dhaka for Dalian at 5.20pm Monday.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Housing and Public Works Minister Advocate SM Rezaul Karim, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali, Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, chiefs of the three services, high civil and military officials were present at the airport to see the PM off.

The flight is scheduled to land at Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, Dalian, Liaoning Province, at 12:15 am (local time) on July 2.

During the visit, she will attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Dalian and hold bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The three-day "WEF Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2019", also known as WEF Summer Davos, begins in Chinese city of Dalian today.

After the reception at the airport, a ceremonial motorcade will escort the premier to Shangri-La Hotel, where she will be staying during the visit to Dalian.

On July 2, the prime minister will attend the inaugural ceremony of the WEF Summer Davos at Dalian International Conference Center in the morning.

Sheikh Hasina will meet Founder and Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab at his office and join a panel discussion on "Cooperation in the Pacific Rim" at Dalian International Conference Centre in the afternoon.

On July 3, the prime minister will leave Dalian for Beijing at 11 am by a special chartered flight to be provided by the Chinese government.

The flight is scheduled to arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport around 12:15 pm the same day.

After the reception at the airport, the prime minister in a ceremonial motorcade will be taken to Diaoyutai State Guest House, where she will be staying during her visit to the Chinese capital.
In the afternoon, the prime minister will join a community reception followed by a dinner at Legendale Hotel, Beijing.

On July 4, Sheikh Hasina will join the welcoming ceremony and place wreaths at the heroes memorial at the Great Hall of the People in the morning.

Later, she will hold bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and attend the agreement signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.

The prime minister will join a banquet to be hosted by the Chinese premier at the Great Hall of the People.

Sheikh Hasina will attend a business roundtable with Chinese business leaders at CCPIT in the afternoon the same day.

On July 5, the prime minister is scheduled to deliver a speech at an event organized by a Chinese think tank named "Pangoal Institution" in the morning.

The CEOs of Chinese companies are expected to call on Sheikh Hasina at her place of residence and will hold a meeting with Chairman of NPC Li Zhangshu.

The prime minister will hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Diaoyutai State Guest House in the afternoon.

She will also join a banquet to be hosted by the Chinese president at the same place.

Concluding her China tour, the prime minister will depart Beijing Capital International Airport, China for Dhaka at 11 am local time on July 6 and reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Hsia), Dhaka at 1:35 pm Bangladesh time the same day.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday said Rohingya crisis will top the agenda of discussions during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's five-day official visit to China from July 2 to 6 when Dhaka will sign eight instruments with Beijing.

"The Rohingya issue will come up as a major topic during our Prime Minister's visit ... we do believe, after that, Beijing will take a 'proactive role' in resolving the crisis (Rohingya repatriation)," he told a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry on Friday afternoon.