Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Dhaka is ready to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrives in the capital on a historic state visit on Friday.
Bangladesh hopes the visit, taking place three decades after then Chinese President Li Xiannian visited Bangladesh in March 1986, will steer a 'historic new journey' towards opening up a 'new horizon' in relations between the two countries.
Dhaka and Beijing are set to sign over 25 memorandum of understandings (MoUs) and deals which are expected to usher in a new chapter of greater collaboration between the two nations.
Officials are still unwilling to speak up about the figure of financial package that China may offer during the visit. But different sources indicated it may exceed US$ 25 billion with special focus on connectivity and mega infrastructure development projects.
The roadsides through which the Chinese President will pass by during his 22-hour stay have nicely been decorated with portraits of the Chinese President, banners and placards welcoming him in Bangladesh.
Posters with pictures of President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are also seen with Chinese President's mega photos in all the major streets and intersections across the city.
"Heartiest welcome to his excellency Mr. Xi Jinping President of China," "Long Live Bangladesh-China Friendship" are written in some of the posters.
Two Bangladesh Air Force Jet Fighters will escort the Chinese president's aircraft as soon as it enters the Bangladesh airspace.
Upon landing, he will be accorded a red-carpet welcome and a 21-gun salute at the VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where he will also be given a guard of honour.
He will be received at the airport by President Abdul Hamid.
The Chinese President will proceed to the saluting dais accompanied by his Bangladesh counterpart, and will receive guard of honor and inspect the guard.
A 13-member high power delegation including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei, Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China Zhou Xiaochuan, will accompany the Chinese President.
President Xi will leave the airport at 12:00 pm (local time) for his place of residence – Hotel Le Meridien.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive the Chinese President at the Prime Minister's Office and they will hold tete-a-tete at Shimul from 3:00 pm to 3:10pm.
The official talks between the Chinese President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be held at Chameli from 3:10pm to 4:00pm.
They will witness the signing of MoUs and agreements which will be held at Karobi soon after the official talks. There will be a press statement after the signing ceremony.
The Chinese President will sign visitors' book there before returning to his place of residence.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will call on the Chinese president at the hotel at 4:35pm for a 20-minute meeting.
According to diplomatic and BNP sources, Khaleda Zia will call on Xi around 5:00 pm at the hotel.
After the meetings, the Chinese president will go to the Bangabhaban to meet his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid at 6:30pm.
The Chinese President will attend banquet preceded by cultural programme to be hosted by Hamid at Darbar Hall from 7:00pm-8:30pm.
On Saturday, the Chinese President will leave hotel for National Martyrs Memorial at 8:20pm
Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq and the General Commanding Officer of the 9th infantry division will receive the Chinese President in Savar at 8:55am.
After attending the ceremony at the National Martyrs Memorial, the Chinese President will sign visitors' book and plant a sapling there.
President Xi will reach the airport straight from Savar and leave for Goa, India at 10:00 am on Saturday by the special VVIP flight. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will see him off at the airport.
BBN/SSR/AD