Dhaka welcomes President Xi today

Dhaka is ready to show befitting honour and hospitality to the Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first ever president of China to visit Bangladesh in last 30 years, who arrives today (Friday) morning for a 22 hours State visit.
The visit is deemed significant from both sides. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is confident that the visit of Chinese President would usher in "a new era of intensive cooperation" in trade, investment and other sectors between the two countries. "We are very happy and feel honoured that Xi is coming to Bangladesh. I believe that Xi's visit will also be more important for South Asia," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told Xinhua in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Kong Xuanyou said in Beijing that Xi's visit to Bangladesh will be a "milestone".
The Chinese President on a visit to Cambodia, will arrive at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with a special carrier at about 11:40am. President Abdul Hamid will welcome him at the airport amid a rousing reception.
National anthems of the two countries will be played along with review of the guard of honour, including gun salute, for the Chinese President.
According to the Foreign Ministry 9 Ministers including Finance, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Trade,  Shipping, Transport and Power will accompany President Xi. Top government officials and 100 Chinese investors will also fly with the President.
Xi will hold official talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office at 3pm and the agreements and MoUs signing ceremony will be held at 4pm.
The Chinese President will meet Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at about 4:40pm, Foreign Ministry sources said.
President Xi will meet his Bangladesh counterpart at Bangabhaban at about 6:30pm while the official banquet will be hosted by President Abdul Hamid at 7:00pm. On Saturday morning, the Chinese President will visit National Martyr's Monument at 9:00am and he will leave for Goa, India, at 10:00am to attend the 8th BRICS Summit.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is likely to meet  the Chinese President at his hotel.
In 1986 the then Chinese President Li Xiannian visited Dhaka. However, this is the second visit of Xi Jinping. He came to Dhaka in 2010 as Chinese Vice-President and planted a tree at Savar mausoleum.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Thursday at a press briefing said that Bangladesh and China will sign over 25 MoUs and agreements which are expected to usher in a new chapter of greater collaboration between the two countries.
Speaking highly of the Bangladesh-China ties, Prime Minister pointed out that the relations between the two countries were underpinned by "the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, Spirit of Good Neighbourliness, Mutual Trust, Confidence and Non-Interference in each other's internal affairs".
Meanwhile, a 15-member delegation led by Chinese Chief of Protocol Qin Gang visited Bangabhaban, Prime Minister's Office and airport and several other places to observe the security measures for President Xi's visit.
Finance Ministry sources said Bangladesh wants to discuss about the interest rate this time, as Chinese financing entails one problem as the biddings are unsolicited and do not go through a tender process.
 According to the Finance Ministry, Bangladesh is borrowing from China's Exim Banks for last 6-7 years to implement many projects, including Payra 1320 MW coal fired power project.
Xi's visit comes at a time in history when Bangladesh is about to get rid of the clutches of low-level equilibrium trap and move into a brand-new frontier of investment, industrialisation, ecological restoration and prosperity for all, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Xinhua.
Hasina reaffirmed that Bangladesh strongly adheres to the One-China policy and supports Beijing on issues related to its core national interests and efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Quoting Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, Chinese leading media outlets said Bangladesh is China's important partner in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and the visit would be a 'milestone' for Bangladesh-China relationship.
During the Foreign Ministry's briefing, Mahmood Ali hinted that Dhaka and Beijing are likely to sign an umbrella agreement to establish closer economic ties by strengthening investment and production capacity covering some 25 priority projects with a special focus on Bangladesh's infrastructure, communication and energy sectors. But the officials are still unwilling to speak on the figure of financial  package that China may offer during  President Xi's visit.
China has emerged as the biggest source of import for Bangladesh since 2007. In 2015-16, two-way trades between the two countries has crossed US$ 9 billion with US$ 8223.20 million import from China and US$ 791.03 million export from Bangladesh.