On Wednesday, Bangladesh and China signed 21 agreements, including the renewal of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), and announced seven new projects to enhance their relationship from a "strategic partnership" to a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.”
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese Premier Li Qiang after delegation-level talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Prime Minister Hasina received a red-carpet welcome upon her arrival at the Great Hall of the People, where she was greeted by Premier Li Qiang.
The bilateral discussions primarily focused on the Rohingya issue, business, trade, commerce, investments, and bilateral relations, along with various regional and international matters. Following the talks, Prime Minister Hasina and Premier Li Qiang witnessed the exchange of the signed documents.
The agreements cover cooperation in various sectors, including economic and banking, trade and investment, digital economy, infrastructure development, disaster management, construction of the 6th and 9th Bangladesh-China friendship bridges, export of agricultural products, and people-to-people connectivity.
The signed agreements include:
1. MoU on Strengthening Investment Cooperation in the Digital Economy.
2. MoU on Banking and Insurance Regulatory between China National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) and Bangladesh Bank.
3. Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Mangoes from Bangladesh to China.
4. MoU on Exchange and Cooperation in the Field of Economic Development Policy.
5. MoU on Trade and Investment Cooperation.
6. MoU on Strengthening Digital Economy Cooperation.
7. Minutes of Discussions on the Feasibility Study of the China-aid National Emergency Operation Center in Bangladesh Project.
8. Exchange of Letters on the China-aid 6th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge Renovation Project.
9. Exchange of Letters on the Feasibility Study of China-aid Construction of Nateshwar Archaeological Site Park in Bangladesh Project.
10. Exchange of Letters on the China-aid 9th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge Project.
11. MoU on Strengthening Cooperation in Medical Care and Public Health.
12. MoU on Strengthening Infrastructure Cooperation.
13. MoU on Cooperation on Green and Low-Carbon Development.
14. Renewal of the MoU on Provision of Hydrological Information of the Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River in Flood Season by China to Bangladesh.
15. MoU between National Radio and Television Administration and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh.
16. MoU between China Media Group (CMG) and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
17. MoU between China Media Group (CMG) and BTV.
18. Agreement between Xinhua News Agency and BSS.
19. Agreement between Xinhua News Agency and BTV.
20. Renewal of the MoU between the Ministry of Education of China and the Ministry of Education of Bangladesh.
21. MoU Regarding Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Infrastructure Development.
The announced projects are:
1. Conclusion of Joint Feasibility Study on China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement.
2. Commencement of Negotiation on the Optimization of China-Bangladesh Bilateral Investment Treaty.
3. Completion of the Modernization of Telecommunication Network for Digital Connectivity project.
4. Completion of the Trial Run of the Single Point Mooring with Double Pipeline project.
5. Commencement of Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant.
6. Signing of the MoU between Shandong Agricultural University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur.
7. Construction of Luban Workshop in Bangladesh.
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