Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has expressed optimism that Bangladesh's new media sector will undergo a "qualitative change" following a series of cooperation agreements signed with China.
Reacting to the memorandums of understanding signed between the information ministries of the two countries, the minister said Bangladesh and China had agreed to share experience and knowledge in information management.
"As information minister, I signed four memoranda of understanding with the Chinese government. Through these agreements, we have agreed to jointly exchange our experience and knowledge in information management," he said.
Swapon said Bangladesh had also reached an understanding with China to cooperate on media technology and research into artificial intelligence.
"We have agreed to research media technology and artificial intelligence with a technologically advanced country like China. Through this joint initiative, we are confident that we will be able to bring a new, qualitative change to Bangladesh's new media sector."
Following bilateral talks between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday, Bangladesh and China signed 17 memoranda of understanding.
Of those, 13 were signed in the presence of the two prime ministers. Six relate to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with the Bangladeshi side represented by Swapon.
The minister said the meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji reflected the importance China attached to relations with Bangladesh.
"We are confident that Bangladesh-China relations will elevate our economy, technology and international standing to a new level."
He added that two agreements and several memoranda of understanding had been concluded between the two countries.
Swapon described Tarique's visit as a milestone, according to a bdnews24.com report.
"This is the first foreign visit by our elected prime minister. We are deeply impressed by China's warmth and hospitality. The affection shown to the prime minister and the delegation is, in fact, a reflection of China's goodwill towards the people of Bangladesh."
He said President Xi had remarked during his meeting with Tarique that the visit would take bilateral ties to a qualitatively new stage.
"According to President Xi Jinping, the relationship that began under the leadership of martyred president Ziaur Rahman and was strengthened under former prime minister Khaleda Zia is now set to reach a new level under the leadership of our elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Those are not my words; they are President Xi Jinping's."
Tarique began his first official overseas tour on Jun 12, first visiting Malaysia before travelling to China.
During his four-day visit to China, he spent the first two days attending the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian before arriving in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon.
In Beijing, the prime minister held bilateral talks with Li and Xi, followed by a one-on-one meeting with the Chinese president.
He also met Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
All of the meetings took place at the Great Hall of the People.
