Staff Correspondent

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has invited BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to visit China at a convenient time.

CPC Central Committee Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Li Hongzhong, extended the formal invitation during a meeting with a high-level BNP delegation, led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on Monday, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

Li Hongzhong, along with other senior CPC leaders, held the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The CPC leaders welcomed the BNP delegation at the start of the meeting.

“During the meeting, Li Hongzhong formally invited BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to visit China in the future,” Sayrul said.

He said the CPC leaders hoped that the meeting would begin a new chapter in China-Bangladesh relations.

They also stressed the need for regular talks and continued cooperation between the CPC and BNP, Sayrul added.

He said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul praised China’s leadership role in regional politics and hoped China would keep expanding its positive efforts through broader multilateral cooperation.

Earlier in the day, the BNP delegation visited the headquarters of China Railway Group Limited, where they learned about China's work in infrastructure development.

This visit is seen as a sign of stronger political ties between BNP and the CPC, with both parties hopeful about more cooperation in the future.

Earlier on Sunday night, a nine-member high-level BNP delegation, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, left Dhaka for China on a five-day visit at the invitation of the CPC.

They arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport at about 5:25 am (Beijing time).

The other eight members of the BNP delegation are Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and Begum Selima Rahman, Chairperson's Advisers Zahiruddin Swapan, Ismail Zabiullah, and Professor Sukomal Barua, party media cell convener Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel and BNP Chairperson’s Personal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.