Hasina flies today for Vietnam

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for Hanoi this morning on a six-day official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Lao People's Democratic Republic.
She will first pay a three-day bilateral visit to Vietnam till Sunday when Dhaka and Hanoi will strike several important deals, and the premier will hold important meetings with Vietnamese leaders.
From Hanoi, Hasina will go to Laos to attend the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Summit of Heads of State and Government on November 4-7.
A special flight of Biman carrying the premier and her entourage leaves Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:30am.
On her arrival in Hanoi, she will first attend the welcome reception at the Presidential Palace and then hold talks with her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung.
The talks will be followed by the signing of several deals on economic cooperation, enhancement of trade and investment. There will be a joint press briefing after the signing ceremony.
Foreign ministry officials said Hasina will also hold talks with several Vietnamese leaders including Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam, today.
She will then call on Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung.
In the evening, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will host a dinner and cultural programme in honour of Hasina.
As per the programme schedule, Hasina will visit the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs and Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh tomorrow.
Later in the day, she will attend a seminar to be organised by the Vietnam-Bangladesh Business Forum. Hasina will then visit Hoa Binh Multipurpose Dam to see hydro-electric generation, irrigation and transportation route.
On Sunday, she will leave Hanoi for Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
On that day, Hasina will hold official talks with the leaders of Lao People's Democratic Republic at the Presidential Palace.
She will join the opening ceremony of the 9th Asem Summit at the National Convention Centre on Monday.
The theme of this year's summit is "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity" aimed at promoting mutual understanding, peace, stability, development and prosperity of Asia and Europe.
Officials said the summit will provide an opportunity to the leaders of Asia and Europe to discuss regional and international issues of common interests and concerns.
Hasina is also scheduled to attend plenary sessions of the summit. She is expected to return home on November 7.