Dhaka – Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive here on a two-day visit in the second week of October when Dhaka is expected to seek financial support for over two dozens of mega projects, UNB news agency reported.
“I can tell you the visit is taking place,” a diplomatic source in Beijing told UNB mentioning that the Chinese President might arrive here either on October 13 or 14.The source, wishing to remain anonymous, said Dhaka and Beijing are considering the visit as a very important one.
Officials at the Foreign Ministry here, however, is yet to declare the date officially saying that they are in discussion for the visit. Chinese Embassy officials also said nothing is finalised yet about the visit.
The Chinese President may announce a package involving several billion dollars for the next couple of years for Bangladesh development projects, said the source.
China is also willing to sign a number of deals but are yet to finalise those.
After the Dhaka visit, the Chinese President will leave for India to attend the BRICS Summit which will be held in Goa, India on October 15-16.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Ma Mingqiang on Tuesday met acting foreign secretary Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam and discussed various issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting with Alam, also secretary, maritime affairs unit (MAU) at the Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Ambassador, however, did not discuss the date of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Dhaka visit, said a ministry source.
On August 21, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader in Chittagong said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping will jointly inaugurate the work on the tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli River any day within October 10-13.
Quader also revealed that the Chinese President will arrive here on October 10 on a three-day visit.
