UNB, Dhaka :
Southwest China’s Yunnan Province Governor Li Jiheng arrived here on Saturday on a three-day visit to discuss possible areas of mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and China in general and Bangladesh and Yunnan Province in particular.
Jiheng, who is leading a six-member delegation that includes high officials of the government of Yunnan Province, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:50pm, said an official at the Foreign Ministry.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam received the Chinese delegation at the airport.
The delegation members are Secretary General of General Office of Yunnan Government Mao Wenguo, DG of Department of Foreign Affairs Zhou Hong, DG of Commission of Reform and Development Wang Xiliang, Deputy DG of General Office Zhao Zhuangtian and interpreter Lin Zongqin, according to Chinese Embassy in Dhaka.
Jiheng will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office at 11am on Sunday after a meeting with Shahriar Alam at his office at 9:30am, said an official at the Foreign Ministry.
The latest development of the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar – Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC), a regional integration concept originated from Yunnan’s capital Kunming 15 years ago, is also likely to figure prominently during the discussions between the Governor and the Bangladesh leadership.
The first meeting of the Joint Study Group (JSG) of the BCIM-EC took place in Kunming in December 2013, while the second is scheduled to be held in June in Chittagong.
Apart from the BCIM-EC, other issues of mutual interest like joint collaboration in trade and investment may also come up for discussions.
Jiheng will also invite Bangladeshi leading entrepreneurs to attend the annual second China-South Asia Expo and 22nd China Kunming Import and Export Fair to be held in the capital city Kunming in June as Southwest China’s Yunnan Province is looking forward to increased business and trade with China’s neighbours in South Asia.
He is also likely to meet Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Communications Minister Obaidul Quader during his stay in Dhaka.
Jiheng and members of his delegation will be holding a meeting with the President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed on trade issues.
He is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Monday evening.
Earlier, former Governor of Yunnan Province Qin Guandrang visited Dhaka in 2010.
On Mar 6, Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jun said Bangladesh deserves a ‘proper share’ from China’s huge ‘outbound investment’ and its import in the coming years which will help reduce the prevailing trade gap between the two countries.
China’s outbound investment will reach US$ 500 billion while import some US$ 10 trillion in the next five years.
