PM Tarique arrives in China after fruitful visit to Malaysia

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman landed in China around 9pm on Monday to begin his official visit to the world's second largest economy.

Tarique, alongside his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, among others, was received at Dalian International Airport by Chinese high officials, including China’s Ambassador to Dhaka Yao Wen, a statement from the PM's office said.

The Bangladesh PM is visiting China at the invitation of Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. PM Tarique flew to Dalian from Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur where he spent two days and held fruitful talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

During this China visit, PM Tarique Rahman will participate in high-level bilateral meetings and discuss Bangladesh–China relations, trade, investment, infrastructure development, and other issues of mutual interest.

Bangladesh is also expected to advance plans to acquire 24 Chinese J-10CE multi-role fighter jets during the visit as Dhaka and Beijing prepare to deepen cooperation across defense, infrastructure, trade and investment.

The World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in the port city of Dalian, in northeast China's Liaoning Province, from June 23 to 25.

More than 1,700 participants from over 90 countries and regions will attend the meeting, and preparations for the event are largely complete, an event spokesperson said at a press conference.

This year's meeting, themed "Innovating at Scale," will feature discussions on topics including the next phase of China's economic trajectory and how to translate technological advances into real economic benefits.

Aside from that, PM Tarique will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang on June 25 and Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 26.

He is expected to return home on the night of June 26, wrapping up his first official overseas tour since taking office.