News Desk

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian late Monday night on the second leg of his overseas diplomatic tour after concluding a two-day official visit to Malaysia.

A red-carpet reception was accorded to the Bangladesh premier upon his arrival at Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport at 11:05 pm local time aboard a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Prime Minister Rahman was accompanied by his spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman.

According to Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, the Prime Minister and his spouse were welcomed at the airport by Liaoning Province Vice Governor Bai Ying, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, and Bangladesh Ambassador to China Md. Nazmul Islam.

Following the formal reception, the Prime Minister was escorted in a ceremonial motorcade to Hotel Shangri-La, where he is scheduled to stay during his visit to Dalian.

Prime Minister Rahman’s visit to China comes at a significant moment as Bangladesh and China enter what officials have described as the “Golden 50 Years” of diplomatic relations. Government officials noted that the visit holds historic importance in strengthening bilateral cooperation, preserving the achievements of past decades, and charting the future direction of relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister is expected to maintain a busy schedule in Dalian before proceeding to Beijing, where the main events of his official visit will take place.

One of the key highlights of the visit will be his participation in the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, widely known as the Summer Davos Forum, organized by the World Economic Forum. The international gathering brings together political leaders, business executives, economists, and policymakers from around the world to discuss emerging global challenges and opportunities.

According to the official programme, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum will meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his hotel on Tuesday morning. Later in the day, he will address a session titled “Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape” at the Dalian International Conference Center, where he is expected to outline Bangladesh’s perspectives on climate resilience, sustainable development, and international cooperation.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to participate in several high-level engagements and networking events during the forum. In the evening, he will attend a state banquet hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

On June 24, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan before attending additional meetings and events. He is scheduled to travel from Dalian to Beijing by high-speed train later that afternoon.

The China visit follows Prime Minister Rahman’s official trip to Malaysia, where he held one-on-one talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, participated in delegation-level discussions, and witnessed the signing of one Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and two other bilateral instruments aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to return to Bangladesh on June 26, concluding his first official overseas tour since assuming office on February 17 this year. Observers view the visits to Malaysia and China as important steps in advancing Bangladesh’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic engagement across Asia.