DHAKA, June 20, (v7n) — Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to depart for Kuala Lumpur on Sunday afternoon, marking his first overseas tour since assuming office in February. The high-profile, two-nation diplomatic mission will take the Premier to Malaysia and China, aiming to catalyze foreign direct investment, expand labor markets, and secure major development partnerships.

Ahead of the Prime Minister’s departure, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam hosted a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to outline the strategic objectives and itinerary of the upcoming visits. Highlighting the administration’s focus on lean and efficient governance, Siam noted that the Premier will be accompanied by streamlined delegations consisting of only 27 to 28 members.

"The visits are being viewed as a major diplomatic initiative aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s economic partnerships, attracting foreign investment, and enhancing regional connectivity," Foreign Secretary Siam stated.

The Malaysia Leg: Trade, Labor, and Regional Ties

The initial leg of the tour in Malaysia will center heavily on expanding trade, bilateral investment, energy cooperation, and the semiconductor industry. Additionally, the Prime Minister will engage in crucial talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding labor market stabilization—a vital interest given that Malaysia hosts an estimated 800,000 Bangladeshi workers. Dhaka is also expected to seek Kuala Lumpur's support for Bangladesh's bids to become an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner and to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while urging a more proactive stance on the Rohingya repatriation crisis.

The China Leg: Massive Bilateral Pacts and Teesta Project

Following his engagements in Malaysia, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will fly directly to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The Chinese leg of the tour is poised to yield historic outcomes, with Bangladesh and China expected to sign 15 to 17 bilateral instruments. These will include 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), two formal agreements, an action plan, and a protocol aimed at deepening infrastructure, technology, and economic zone cooperation.

Crucially, the Foreign Secretary confirmed that the long-delayed Teesta River restoration and management project will be on the bilateral negotiation table. The multi-billion-dollar project involves extensive river dredging, embankment construction, and advanced irrigation networks.

High-Level Engagements and Summer Davos

The Prime Minister's itinerary in China includes several critical milestones:

  • June 23–25: Attendance at the World Economic Forum’s 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, widely known as the Summer Davos Forum, in Dalian, Liaoning Province. Under the theme “Innovating at Scale,” the Premier will join over 1,700 global leaders to discuss emerging technological trends and innovation-driven economic growth.

  • June 25: Formal bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing.

  • June 26: A high-level summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping to solidify strategic ties.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Friday night. Additional Foreign Secretary AKM Shahidul Karim and other senior diplomats were also present at the briefing, underscoring the Ministry’s unified push behind this landmark diplomatic mission.

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