Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Visit Malaysia and China on First Official Foreign Tour

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will embark on a two-day official visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The visit will mark his first state visit abroad since assuming office.

Following the Malaysia trip, the Prime Minister will travel to the Chinese port city of Dalian on the night of June 22 for a four-day visit to China.

At a press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam outlined the details of the Prime Minister’s visits. He said that Tarique Rahman will visit Malaysia from June 21–22 and China from June 23–26. The Foreign Secretary also noted that the Prime Minister’s delegation to China currently consists of 28 members, emphasizing that efforts have been made to keep the delegation size reasonable.

During the Malaysia visit, Prime Minister Rahman will hold a one-on-one meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on June 22. This will be followed by a bilateral meeting between the high-level delegations of the two countries led by the two leaders.

Key issues expected to be discussed include trade and investment expansion, energy cooperation, the halal economy, the semiconductor industry, agriculture, education, and people-to-people connectivity. Both sides will explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration in these sectors.

According to the Foreign Secretary, Bangladesh will also seek Malaysia’s support for the recruitment of more Bangladeshi workers in various sectors, Bangladesh’s accession to ASEAN, and efforts to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

Two agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, covering cultural exchange and a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

Regarding the China visit, Foreign Secretary Siam said that Bangladesh and China are expected to sign between 15 and 17 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs). These are likely to include 13 MoUs, two agreements, one action plan, and one protocol.

After concluding his Malaysia visit, Prime Minister Rahman will arrive in Dalian on the evening of June 22. On June 23, he is scheduled to meet the President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders attending the WEF Annual Meeting, including the prime ministers and senior officials of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and South Korea.

On the same day, the Prime Minister will address a session titled “Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape” as the keynote speaker at the WEF conference. In the evening, he will attend a welcome banquet hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

On June 24, Prime Minister Rahman will participate in the opening ceremony of the 13th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, commonly known as the Summer Davos Forum. This year’s theme is “Innovating at Scale.” After attending the event, he will travel to Beijing by train and stay at the state guesthouse.

On June 25, the Prime Minister will separately meet the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of China.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) will organize a business event titled “Bangladesh Investment Forum,” where the Prime Minister will highlight Bangladesh’s investment opportunities and invite Chinese businesses to invest in the country.

Later that day, Prime Minister Rahman will hold bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Discussions will focus on bilateral relations, areas of mutual interest, and future cooperation.

Several agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed in the presence of the two leaders following the meeting. The Prime Minister will also attend a state banquet hosted by the Chinese Premier.

On June 26, Prime Minister Rahman will meet Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. He will then hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.

During his stay in Beijing, the Prime Minister will also pay tribute to China’s fallen heroes at Tiananmen Square. He is scheduled to depart for Dhaka on the afternoon of June 26.

Foreign Secretary Siam expressed optimism that the Prime Minister’s visits to Malaysia and China would open new avenues of cooperation. He also noted that Bangladesh is engaging with China’s private sector to attract investment and that work is underway to establish a dedicated Chinese economic zone in Bangladesh. The Prime Minister is expected to meet several private-sector leaders during the visit.