Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dalian for Beijing on Wednesday afternoon after participating in the two-day 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), also known as Summer Davos.
Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said Tarique Rahman, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, left Dalian by high-speed train at 1:56pm local time for the Chinese capital to begin his three-day state visit.
The Prime Minister’s arrival in Beijing will mark the start of his official three-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
During the visit, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Premier Li Qiang on Thursday and Friday. He is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and hold discussions with senior leaders of the Communist Party of China.
According to the programme schedule, Premier Li Qiang will accord a red-carpet reception to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.
The two prime ministers will subsequently lead high-level bilateral talks between Bangladesh and China at the Great Hall of the People, focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure development and other areas of mutual interest.
Earlier, in the morning, the Prime Minister participated in the WEF 17th Annual Meeting at the Dalian International Conference Centre, according to his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.
The conference began at 10:00am local time with the theme, “Innovating at Scale,” focusing on how innovation can drive sustainable economic growth and address global challenges.
Before that, he also joined the plenary session of the conference that began at 9:00am local time.
WEF President and Chief Executive Officer Alois Zwinggi delivered the opening remarks.
Apart from Tarique Rahman, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral, Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Kazakh Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov also joined the session.
On the sidelines of the session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held discussions with several heads of government and senior leaders from different countries on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing issues of mutual interest.
The interactions focused on enhancing cooperation in areas, including trade, investment, economic development and regional connectivity.
During a break in the session, the participating world leaders took part in an official photo session.
More than 1,700 representatives from over 90 countries and regions, including leaders from government, business, academia and media, took part in the event.
This year’s event, themed “Innovating at Scale,” focuses on key global issues, including the global economy, shifting industrial structures, the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies, China’s economic future, youth employment, and climate change.
Bridging the gap between rapid technological advancement and its broader economic benefits remains one of the central topics of discussion of the conference.
This marks Tarique Rahman’s first participation in a World Economic Forum meeting since assuming office as Prime Minister.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman addressed a session of the annual meeting.
He also held a meeting with WEF President and CEO Alois Zwinggi on the sidelines of the conference.
Besides, Tarique Rahman attended a state dinner hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, along with the prime ministers of six other countries, including South Korea, Mongolia, Guinea, Montenegro and Kazakhstan.
Tarique Rahman, along with his spouse Dr Zubaida Rahman and the delegation, including eight ministers, state ministers and advisers, arrived in Dalian from Kuala Lumpur on Monday night.
A high-level Chinese government delegation welcomed the Prime Minister with a red-carpet reception upon arrival, followed by a motorcade escort to the hotel.
He is expected to return home on the night of June 26, wrapping up his first official overseas tour since taking office.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
