Governor of Chinese province due today

China's Yunnan province Governor Qin Guangrong will arrive here today on a two-day official visit to discuss with government leaders setting up of Bangladesh-China direct road and rail connectivity.

Governor Qin will tour Bangladesh at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's invitation extended during her visit to Kunming, capital of Yunnan, in March this year.

The governor is expected to call on the premier and hold talks with Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni.

Officials said the two sides have decided to sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of agriculture and tourism.

Earlier, the Yunnan province authorities made a proposal for five MoUs in the areas of agriculture, education, energy, civil aviation and tourism and cooperation between Bangladesh and Yunnan.

Foreign ministry sources said regional connectivity, particularly setting up of Chittagong-Kunming road and rail link, increasing trade and commerce and joint efforts to curb poverty will dominate the talks.

According to sources, bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China have reached a new height following Sheikh Hasina's China visit in March. China too sent its Vice President Xi Jinping here in June.

Bangladesh is stressing the importance of regional and international connectivity and has taken appropriate steps to establish road and rail link with Asian Highway, sources added.

Earlier, the Yunnan governor was due to arrive yesterday for a three-day visit and later it was reduced to two-day.

-Daily Star