Bangladesh and China are likely to sign multiple MoUs and agreements during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day visit that begins  Saturday morning.

Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam said the list is not finalised yet and it can be five-seven – new and renewal including cooperation on the disaster management and cultural exchange fronts. 

He assured that the planned MoUs and agreements will be aligned with Bangladesh’s cultural, social and economic policy though the list is not finalised yet.

The State Minister said the relationship between Bangladesh and China is “deep and wide” and the two countries will discuss areas of future cooperation.

Shahriar said the Chinese Foreign Minister is scheduled to arrive here at 11am on Saturday while he will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday morning.

Minister Wang will also have a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen the same day to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will host a dinner in honour of the Chinese Foreign Minister Saturday evening, Shahriar said.

Foreign Minister Momen is expected to return home Saturday night after attending the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting on August 5-6 in Cambodia.

It is not yet decided who will receive the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Also read: No discussion on new loan during Chinese FM's visit: FS

Responding to a question, the State Minister said Bangladesh will seek a stronger role from the Chinese government for early repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and there is a tripartite mechanism – Bangladesh, Myanmar and China – to discuss and resolve the crisis.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said taking a new loan from China will not be a part of their agenda during the Chinese Foreign Minister's upcoming Bangladesh visit.

"This time, the issue of taking loan afresh isn't there at least," he said on Wednesday when a reporter wanted to know whether Bangladesh is going to take a loan from China again.

Asked what message this visit carries amid the crisis in various parts of the world, the foreign secretary said it will be known once the Chinese foreign minister comes. "We are working on the visit. Things are yet to be finalised."

He reiterated that the visit is part of the Chinese side's routine visit to the region and also it is an opportunity to review the existing engagements between the two countries.

"It can't be said (there's) urgency (from the Chinese side). Since he will be visiting this region, he expressed the desire to come here if we can give him time. We are looking into the timings," he said earlier when a reporter wanted to know why there was so much urgency from the Chinese side.

In January 2017, Wang Yi had an hour-long stopover in Dhaka. "This time, he will be coming for a longer period," said the foreign secretary.

Wang is a member of the 19th CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and a member of the Leading CPC Members Group of the State Council.

Also read: Dhaka closely following developments in Taiwan Strait: MoFA