DHAKA: Chinese Vice President Xi Jingping arrives here tomorrow (Monday) morning on a two-day official visit, with expansion of the bilteral economic coopertaiion on top of his agenda.

Officials here said an agreement on economic cooperation is expected to be signed between the two countries during the top-level tour from one of the economic superpowers of the present-day world.

Under the deal, Bangladesh will receive 40 million RMB (Chinese currency) as grants from China, said Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni at a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry Sunday.

A Chinese delegation accompanying Xi Jingping would hold a bilateral meeting with their Bangladesh counterpart led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the first day of the tour, said Dipu Moni.

”Some vital issues, including cooperation in launching space satellite, establishing road link between Chittagong and Kunming and tri-nation gas pipeline, would be discussed,” she told reporters.

The Chinese Vice President will leave Dhaka for home on 15 June.

Dipu Moni said the two sides would review the progress in implementation of decisions taken during Sheik Hasina’s visit to China last March.

She said Bangladesh is preparing a proposal to seek assistance from China for constructing a deep-sea port. The two countries will also discuss constrution of a road link and tri-nation gas pipeline binding Bangladesh, China and Myanmar.

Among others, Foreign Secretary Mohammad Mijarul Quayes attended the briefing.

BDST: 1940 HRS, June-13, 2010.
JU/SMS/MUA