Chinese commerce minister due Aug 25
UNB
Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on August 25 on a two-day visit in Bangladesh to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues between the two countries, reports UNB.
Yes, hes coming and will meet senior ministers to discuss the issues of mutual interest and explore areas of future cooperation, an official source told the news agency confirming the date.
The official also said there is a possibility that Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang will visit Bangladesh too this year. Its quite possible the PM will come this year but the date is yet to be finalised, he said.
During his two-day visit, the Chinese commerce minister will meet Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.
He is likely to meet President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, too.
The official, however, would not say what issues exactly to be discussed during the visit.
Earlier, in July last week, Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Ma Mingqiang met Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at the Foreign Ministry and discussed various bilateral issues apart from the possible visit.
The Chinese envoy expressed his countrys eagerness to assist Bangladesh in a number of areas. During the meeting with the foreign secretary, he shared his thinking about garbage collection, river erosion, and new methods of building roads with soil consolidation additive.
At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to China from June 6 to 11 in 2014.
Both sides agreed that the Chinese financial institutions will cooperate with each other in projects with relevant institutions in Bangladesh as per law and regulation.
In this context, the Bangladeshi side proposed undertaking the following projects in accelerating Bangladeshs development - Development of National Infra Network for Bangladesh Government Phase III, Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant Project, Construction of 2nd Railway-cum-Road Bridge across the River Karnaphuli at Kalurghat Point near the Existing Railway Bridge, Construction of New Single Track Dual Gauge (DG) Railway Line from Chittagong to Coxs Bazar via Ramu and Ramu to Gundum near Bangladesh-Myanmar Border and Eastern Refinery Unit-II and the Single Point Mooring (SPM ) Project.
