Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday as part of his four-day official visit to China.
Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister's Office spokesman Mahdi Amin said the prime minister would raise a range of issues related to Bangladesh's national interests.
He said the visit aims to deepen Bangladesh-China relations across multiple areas, including strategic cooperation, trade, investment, employment, development projects and people-to-people exchanges. According to the spokesman, bilateral engagement between the two countries is expected to reach new heights.
Before meeting President Xi, the prime minister held talks with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, at the same venue.
Earlier in the morning, Tarique Rahman paid tribute to China's revolutionary heroes at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square.
Arriving at the Great Hall of the People at around 9:30 am local time after the ceremony, he laid a red and green wreath at the monument. The national anthems of Bangladesh and China were played while the bugle sounded the Last Post. The prime minister then observed a moment of silence in honour of the fallen Chinese heroes.
On his arrival at Tiananmen Square at about 9:10 am, a contingent of the Chinese Armed Forces accorded him a state salute. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and other members of the delegation were present.
The prime minister is visiting China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang.
On Thursday, Bangladesh and China signed 13 memorandums of understanding covering cooperation in a range of sectors following bilateral talks between Tarique Rahman and Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People.
After the meeting and the signing ceremony, the Bangladeshi delegation attended a state banquet hosted by the Chinese premier.
Tarique Rahman arrived in Beijing on Wednesday and was welcomed with full state honours, including a ceremonial red-carpet reception.
As with his earlier visit to Malaysia and his participation in the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos meeting in China, the prime minister travelled with a small delegation of 25 members, including 11 ministers, state ministers and advisers.
The China visit is the second leg of his first official overseas tour since taking office. He is scheduled to depart Beijing for Dhaka at 5 pm on Friday.
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