Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home on Wednesday afternoon from Beijing after wrapping up her six-day official visit to China.
A VVIP flight of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage, landed at Hazrat Shajalal International Airport at about 2:15 pm.
Ministers and high civil and military officials received the Prime Minister at the airport.
Earlier in the morning, the VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines departed Beijing Capital International Airport around 11:00 am, local time (9:00 am BST).
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of China Liu Zhenmin and Bangladesh Ambassador to China Muhammad Azizul Haque saw the Prime Minister off at the airport.
During the visit, Bangladesh and China on Monday signed five deals, including one for building a large power plant in Patuakhali with Chinese assistance.
During official talks with Chinese premier Li Keqiang in Beijing also on Monday, Hasina sought support for five other mega infrastructure projects, and Keqiang assured her of taking necessary steps.
A 1,320-megawatt coal-based power plant is among the project to be set up in Kalapara, Patuakhali.
The four other deals signed on Monday include an agreement, a memorandum of understanding and two Exchange of Letters to enhance cooperation in sectors like trade and investment and climate change.
The issue of constructing the Sonadia Deep-Sea Port figured prominently in the talks, and the two sides agreed to continue discussions.
Hasina and Keqiang led their respective delegations to the talks at the Great Hall of People in Beijing.
The five other mega infrastructure projects, for which Dhaka had sought loan and grant support, are National ICT Network for Bangladesh Government (Phase-III), construction of Rajshahi Wasa Surface Water Treatment Plant, construction of second railway/road bridge over the Karnaphuli at Kalurhgat point, construction of a new dual gauge railway line from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu and Ramu to Gundum near Bangladesh-Myanmar border, and establishment of Eastern Refinery Unit-2 and Single Point Mooring Project.
Besides, two important MoUs, one between China and Bangladesh for constructing a tunnel under the River Karnaphuli in Chittagong and another between a Chinese company and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for constructing a garment village at Gazaria in Munshiganj, were signed on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit to China.
On the first leg of her visit, the Prime Minister went for Kunming and from there she headed for Chinese capital Beijing.
In Kunming, Hasina attended the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-South Asia Expo and delivered her address, met Wang Yang, Vice Premier of China, attended banquet hosted by Expo organising committee headed by Li Jiheng, Governor of Yunnan Province, delivered her address at the 9th China – South Asia Business Forum, visited Stone Forest, met Qin Guangrong, Secretary, Communist Party of China, Yunnan Province and other leaders of Yunnan Province, attended banquet hosted by Qin Guangrong, Secretary, Communist Party of China, Yunnan Province.
The Prime Minister began her Beijing tour by placing wreath at the Monument of the People’s Heroes on June 8. She then visited Beijing Chaoyang Theater and Acrobatic World.
On June 9, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote speech at a seminar at China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) while addressed before the Bangladesh China Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in Beijing on June 10.
She also called on President of China XI Jinping and held a meeting with Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of People.
