#thenewscompany : Bangladesh today rolled out the red carpet as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here on a two-day state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state in 30 years. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid received his Chinese counterpart at the VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11.36am.
A 21-gun salute heralded Jinping’s arrival as he came out from a special flight of Air China while a young girl accompanying President Hamid presented him with a bouquet. Four Bangladesh air force fighter jets escorted the aircraft carrying the Chinese leader as it entered the country’s skyline. After his arrival, a contingent of army, navy and air force accorded him a guard of honour when the military bugles played the national anthems of the two countries. The Chinese president took the salute from a decorated dais and inspected the guard along with his Bangladesh counterpart.
Senior cabinet members including Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agricultural Minister Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi and Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and senior officials were present on the presentation line.
President Hamid introduced the ministers and officials to the Chinese President Xi Jinping who also introduced his members of the entourage to Bangladesh President Hamid. A ceremonial motorcade then escorted the Chinese leader to the Le Meridian Hotel under tight security.
Jinping is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the afternoon and join a banquet at Bangabhaban in the evening as part of his 23-hour Dhaka tour.
