Bangladesh and China have signed 21 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements, along with 7 declarations, to upgrade from a ‘strategic partnership’ to a ‘comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.’ Among these, 2 MoUs have been renewed.
On Wednesday (July 10) afternoon at the ‘Great Hall of the People’ in Beijing, the agreements, MoUs, and declarations were signed in the presence of visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Before the signing of the agreements and MoUs, Li Qiang and Sheikh Hasina held a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall with representatives from both countries.
In the morning, upon arriving at the Great Hall, Sheikh Hasina was welcomed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Here, Sheikh Hasina was given a state reception with a red carpet welcome and a guard of honor.
In the bilateral meeting, discussions covered various issues including the Rohingya crisis, trade, investment, bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as regional and international matters.
After the bilateral meeting, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of agreements, MoUs, declarations, and the exchange of documents.
The agreements and MoUs cover cooperation in the economic and banking sectors, business and investment, the digital economy, infrastructure development, disaster management support, the 6th and 9th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridges, agricultural product exports, and people-to-people connectivity.
**Signed Agreements, MoUs, and Documents:**
1. An MoU to strengthen investment support in the digital economy was signed by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.
2. An MoU on banking and insurance regulation was signed by the China National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) and Bangladesh Bank.
3. A phytosanitary protocol was signed for the export of fresh mangoes from Bangladesh to China.
4. An MoU on economic development policy support was signed by both countries.
5. An MoU on trade and investment support was signed by Bangladesh and China.
6. An MoU to strengthen digital economic cooperation.
7. A signing of minutes for the feasibility study of the China-aided National Emergency Operation Center project in Bangladesh.
8. An exchange of letters for the rehabilitation project of the 6th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge with Chinese assistance.
9. An exchange of letters for the feasibility study of the China-aided construction project at the Nateshwar Archaeological Site Park.
10. An exchange of letters for the 9th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge project with Chinese assistance.
11. An MoU to strengthen cooperation in medical services and public health.
12. An MoU to strengthen infrastructural cooperation.
13. An MoU on cooperation in green and low-carbon development.
14. A renewal of the MoU on providing hydrological information of the Yalu Zangbu (Brahmaputra) River during the flood season.
15. An MoU signed by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with China’s National Radio and Television.
16. An MoU on mutual cooperation signed by the China Media Group (CMG) and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
17. Another MoU signed between the China Media Group (CMG) and Bangladesh Television (BTV).
18. An agreement signed by the Xinhua News Agency and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
19. Another agreement signed by the Xinhua News Agency and Bangladesh Television (BTV).
20. A renewal of an MoU between China’s Ministry of Education and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education.
21. An MoU on public-private partnerships for sustainable infrastructure development.
**7 Declarations:**
1. The announcement of the completion of the joint feasibility study on the China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement.
2. The announcement of the start of discussions on the China-Bangladesh Bilateral Investment Enhancement Agreement.
3. The announcement of the completion of the telecommunications network modernization for the Digital Connectivity Project.
4. The announcement of the completion of the single-point mooring trial with double pipelines.
5. The announcement of the commencement of the Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant.
6. An MoU signed between Shandong Agricultural University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University.
7. The announcement of the construction of a Luban Workshop in Bangladesh.
