Dhaka may engage with Beijing initiative

Bangladesh is likely to engage with China’s One Belt One Road initiative to step up multifarious development activities here, according to officials at the Prime Minister’s Office. 
The government is set to make the announcement during the forthcoming visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping on Friday.
‘Engaging in the One Belt One Road will create avenue for Bangladesh to access funds for development activities on soft terms and conditions,’ a senior government official said. 
One Belt One Road is a Chinese framework arrangement for organising multinational economic development primarily in Eurasia through two main components – the land-based Silk Road and oceangoing Maritime Silk Road. It was unveiled by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2013. 
Xi will be in Dhaka on Friday on a less than 24-hour state visit as a part of his tri-nation visit in Southeast and South Asia. 
He will lead a 24-member Chinese delegation in the official talks, in which prime minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a 24-member Bangladesh delegation at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Three Chinese state councillors, the foreign and commerce ministers, the executive chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and senior officials will accompany Xi in the state visit.
The two sides are expected to sign a framework agreement on productivity cooperation development and at least 25 agreements and memorandums of understanding on Chinese investment and technical supports in the fields of energy, roads, railways, rural electrification, information and communication technology, maritime economy and counter terrorism during the visit, officials said. 
More than 60 Chinese business people is expected to reach Dhaka by Thursday to participate in talks and programme hosted by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce of Industry. 
Making formal announcement about the visit at a briefing in Beijing on Monday, Chinese assistant foreign minister Kong Xuanyou said that the visit of president Xi Jinping to Bangladesh would be a ‘milestone’ in improving the bilateral relations.
The foreign ministry is likely to a make formal announcement about the visit at a press conference in Dhaka on Thursday. 
Bangladesh in 2014 conveyed its support to China’s One Belt One Road initiative during president Abdul Hamid’s visit to the country to attend a dialogue on strengthening connectivity by partnership. 
This will be Xi’s first visit to Bangladesh as Chinese president. 
Xi Jinping will visit Cambodia and Bangladesh, and attend the 8th BRICS summit in Indian state Goa from October 13 to 17, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced Monday.
Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina too will be in Goa to attend a BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit on October 16 and 17.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net