Hasina leaves for China tonight

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina leaves Dhaka tonight for China on a seven-day visit at the invitation of the Communist Party of China.

During her stay in China, she will visit three provinces including Beijing and Shanghai.

Hasina is scheduled to hold official meetings with Chinese Communist Party leaders and visit Pudong Industrial parks in Shanghai.

She is likely to return home on November 13, according to party sources.

Commenting on the visit, former foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad told reporters that it would help strengthen bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and China and foster relations between Awami League and the Communist Party of China.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador in Bangla-desh, Chai Xi, yesterday called on Hasina at her residence and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

Sheikh Hasina lauded China's assistance for Bangladesh and hoped relations between the two friendly countries would deepen, the meeting sources said.

Kazi Zafrullah MP, Obaidul Kader, Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury, AL International Affairs Secretary Syed Abul Hossain, and former diplomats Faruk Chowdhury and Mahmud Ali are accompanying the AL chief.