PM off to China

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for China on Friday morning on a 6-day official visit during which both the countries are expected to complete negotiations on the construction of a deep seaport at Sonadia in Cox’s Bazar. A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage departed Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) International Airport at 7:35 am for Kunming. Ministers and high civil and military officials saw the Prime Minister off at the airport. Bangladesh Ambassador to China Azizul Haque and Yunnan Province vice governor Mme. Li Jiang will receive the Prime Minister at Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG). From there, she will be taken to Green Lake Hotel through a ceremonial motorcade where she will be staying during her visit in Kunming from where she will later go to Beijing. She will attend the inaugural ceremony of China-South Asia Expo at Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center and deliver her speech. Later, Sheikh Hasina will have a meeting with vice premier of China Wang Yang and attend banquet hosted by Yunnan province governor Li Jiheng. On Saturday, the Prime Minister will deliver her keynote speech at the China-South Asia Business Forum. On Sunday, she will leave Kunming for Beijing. The Prime Minister will place wreaths at the monument of the People’s Heroes. The following day, Sheikh Hasina will deliver her keynote speech at China Institute of International Studies. In the afternoon, she will hold official talks with Chinese premier Li Keqiang which will be followed by a signing ceremony. In the evening, she will attend a banquet to be hosted by her Chinese counterpart. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister will deliver another keynote speech at the Bangladesh China Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum. She will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Yu Zhengsheng, according to a news agency.