Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese Premier Li Qiang held bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People, resulting in the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two nations. Rahman was warmly received upon arrival, with a red-carpet welcome, a Guard of Honour, and a gun salute. The national anthems of both countries were played, and both leaders introduced their delegations. Later, Rahman attended a banquet hosted by Li Qiang.
Ceremonial Welcome and Guard of Honour
Upon his arrival at the Great Hall, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was greeted with a ceremonial motorcade from the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. A red carpet was rolled out as Chinese Premier Li Qiang welcomed him warmly. The two leaders walked together to a specially decorated platform, where a contingent of the Chinese Armed Forces presented a Guard of Honour. The national anthems of both countries were played, and the Prime Ministers received the salute and inspected the guard.
Bilateral Talks and MoU Signings
During the bilateral meeting, several MoUs were signed, although specific details of these agreements were not provided. The discussions covered a range of topics, including the Teesta Master Plan, river management, flood-risk mitigation, river dredging, erosion control, irrigation, and inland navigation. Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying expressed interest in working closely with Bangladesh and supporting research, training, and institutional capacity building in these sectors.
Investment and Economic Cooperation
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman addressed an event titled "Invest Bangladesh" organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). He invited Chinese investors to invest in Bangladesh, highlighting the government's efforts to create an investment-friendly environment through economic and administrative reforms. Initiatives include the development of economic zones, the establishment of Bangladesh's first investment office in China, and special incentives for priority sectors.
Party-to-Party Meeting and Future Engagements
Tarique Rahman also held a party-to-party meeting with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China. During the meeting, Rahman called for a closer partnership aimed at long-term economic cooperation, sustainable growth, and mutual prosperity. The Chinese side expressed interest in further strengthening political, economic, and people-to-people engagement and reaffirmed China's support for Bangladesh's sovereignty, security, and development. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Communist Party of China.
