Bangladesh and China will sign several cooperation MoUs during Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus's imminent China tour, what Beijing takes as a "milestone event".
In a prelude to the visit, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain Sunday said there would be no agreement inked this time.
However, he parried the query when asked to elaborate on the issues related to the MoUs, saying that "both the countries are working on it".
A memorandum of understanding is a formal, yet non-binding, agreement outlining the intentions, roles, and objectives of two or more parties.
This will be the first bilateral visit of the Chief Adviser after his takeover as the head of interim government after the July-August uprising and changeover. Bangladesh and China will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.
On the other hand, Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Yao Wen, after his meeting with foreign secretary Joshim Uddin, told the reporters that the visit of Bangladesh Chief Adviser would be a milestone event.
"It will be a productive and successful visit with some important announcements," he added on a lead-in note about the tour.
The head of interim government of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus, is scheduled to leave for China Wednesday (March 26) to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Conference in Hainan Province of the East-Asian country.
On March 27, he would deliver a speech at the conference's opening plenary session and may meet with China's Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang.
On March 28, the Chief Adviser is set to meet President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for summit-level talks on matters of bilateral interest and cooperation.
He is also likely to visit a high-tech enterprise under Huawei and give an interview with a leading Chinese media outlet.
Peking University will confer an honorary doctorate on Nobel-laureate Dr Yunus on March 29, where he would also deliver a speech. He will start for home the same day.
According to officials of the CA Office, trade and economic development will be the main focus during the visit and Bangladesh eyes relocation of Chinese factories to Bangladesh in the country's pursuit to become a manufacturing hub.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
