Chittagong-Yunnan links top on Chinese Governor’s agenda

Diplomatic Correspondent
The Governor of China’s south-western province of Yunnan, Qin Guangrong will arrive in Dhaka this morning on a two-day visit in a bid to establish direct links between Yunnan and the port city of Chittagong.
Four other memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of agriculture, energy, education and tourism are also expected to be inked during his visit.
But the highlight is likely to be a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Yunnan and Chittagong, a first its kind with any country, will be signed during this visit.
Bangladesh had proposed setting up a 1,700-km Chittagong-Kunming trans-border road and railway route, running through Myanmar during Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Beijing earlier this year when she had visited Kunming, the capital of Yunnan.
Hasina had suggested a greater role for the Yunnan Government, saying, “Yunnan province authorities also have a significant role to set up direct links with Bangladesh.”
She had invited Governor Qin at the time to expedite the process of connecting the two countries.
The Yunnan Governor will be the second high-ranking leader to visit Bangladesh. Earlier, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited Bangladesh in June.
As per his itinerary, Qin Guangrong will arrive at 9 am at the Hajrat Shahjalal International Airport. From there he will go to prime minister’s office to pay a visit to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the afternoon, the Governor will meet the Communication Minister Sayed Abul Hossain and Civil Aviation Minister Ghulam Muhammad Quader, separately. The Communication Minister will host a dinner in his honour.
On Monday, the governor will visit the Confucius Institute of the North South University. He will attend a launch host by the Chinese ambassador in Dhaka before leaving for home later in the day.

29-8-10, INDEPENDENT