Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday morning.

The Prime Minister arrived at the Great Hall at approximately 9:30 am, following a formal state tribute at Tiananmen Square.

Upon his arrival at the square at 9:10 am, a smartly turned-out contingent of the Chinese Armed Forces accorded the Bangladesh premier a state salute.

During the tribute at the Monument to the People's Heroes, Tarique Rahman placed a special red-green wreath to honor the memory of China’s revolutionary heroes.

As the national anthems of both countries were played and the bugle sounded the last post, the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence as a mark of profound respect.

The meeting with the NPC Chairman marks a key moment in the Prime Minister's four-day official visit to China, conducted at the invitation of his counterpart, Premier Li Qiang.

Following his discussions with Zhao Leji, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

The Prime Minister’s current tour represents the second leg of his maiden official overseas visit, which began in Malaysia on June 21 and continued with his attendance at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Summer Davos 2026 in Dalian.

During the WEF conference, the Prime Minister met with global leaders, including the prime ministers of China, South Korea, Montenegro, Mongolia, Guinea, and Kazakhstan.

Notably, the WEF President and CEO called on Tarique Rahman, who highlighted Bangladesh's various climate initiatives undertaken in the past four months, drawing "widespread appreciation from the international audience."

Reflecting on the progress made during this trip, Thursday proved to be a highly productive day in Beijing. Bangladesh and China signed 13 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for bilateral cooperation following formal talks between the Prime Minister and Premier Li Qiang, after which both delegations joined a banquet hosted by the Chinese Premier.

Additionally, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) signed a separate MoU at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Further engagements included a meeting with Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying and an address by the Prime Minister at the "Invest Bangladesh" event, organized jointly by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

Tarique Rahman also held a party-to-party meeting with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC.

Throughout his stay, the Prime Minister has engaged with senior executives from major industrial groups, including representatives from the China International Development Cooperation Agency, China Railway Construction Corporation, and China Road and Bridge Corporation, to discuss strategies to "expand investment and trade and contribute more effectively to Bangladesh's development journey."

In keeping with his previous diplomatic visits, the Prime Minister has maintained a streamlined delegation of 25 members, comprising 11 ministers, state ministers and advisers.

The Prime Minister, who arrived in Beijing yesterday to a red-carpet reception and the highest state honors, is scheduled to conclude his visit and depart for Dhaka at 5 pm local time on this day.