Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dalian for Beijing on Wednesday afternoon after concluding his participation in the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), commonly known as the Summer Davos Forum.
Accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, the prime minister departed for the Chinese capital by high-speed train at 1:56pm local time, according to Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.
His arrival in Beijing marks the beginning of a three-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
During the visit, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Premier Li on Thursday and Friday. He is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior leaders of the Communist Party of China.
According to the official programme, Premier Li will accord the Bangladeshi prime minister a red-carpet reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.
The two leaders will subsequently hold high-level bilateral talks focusing on trade, investment, infrastructure development and other areas of mutual interest.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tarique Rahman participated in the WEF annual meeting at the Dalian International Conference Centre.
He also attended the plenary session of the forum, which opened with remarks by WEF President and Chief Executive Officer Alois Zwinggi.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral, Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Kazakh Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov were among the world leaders attending the session.
On the sidelines of the forum, the prime minister held discussions with several heads of government and senior officials on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, economic development and regional connectivity.
Participating leaders also joined an official photo session during a break in the programme.
More than 1,700 representatives from over 90 countries and regions, including government leaders, business executives, academics and media representatives, took part in the event.
Held under the theme “Innovating at Scale”, this year’s forum focused on the global economy, industrial transformation, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, China’s economic outlook, youth employment and climate change.
A key issue discussed at the conference was how to ensure that rapid technological advances translate into broader economic benefits.
The event marked Tarique Rahman’s first participation in a World Economic Forum meeting since assuming office as prime minister.
On Tuesday, he addressed a session of the forum and later met WEF President Alois Zwinggi on the sidelines of the conference.
He also attended a state dinner hosted by Premier Li Qiang alongside the prime ministers of South Korea, Mongolia, Guinea, Montenegro and Kazakhstan.
Tarique Rahman arrived in Dalian from Kuala Lumpur on Monday night with a high-level delegation comprising ministers, state ministers and advisers.
A Chinese government delegation received him with a red-carpet welcome and escorted him to his hotel.
The prime minister is expected to return to Bangladesh on the night of 26 June, concluding his first official overseas tour since taking office.
