Southwest China’s Yunnan Province Governor Li Jiheng arrives here on Saturday on a three-day visit to discuss how cooperation in the areas of connectivity, trade, agriculture, tourism, energy and education can further be strengthened with Bangladesh. He will lead a six-member delegation that includes high officials of the government of Yunnan Province, and hold talks with top government leaders, said an official here on Friday. 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. The second meeting of the JSG is scheduled to be held in June in Chittagong. Apart from BCIM-EC, other issues of mutual interest like joint collaboration in trade and investment may also come up for discussion. 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 will meet State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam at his office on Sunday at 9:30am, said an official at the Foreign Ministry. Jiheng will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Communications Minister Obaidul Quader during his stay in Dhaka. The Yunnan Province Governor 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. The Chinese Governor 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 coming five years. – UNB
