Dhaka: The Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Dhaka on a two-day state visit on Friday morning on a two-day state visit describing it as a ‘crucial’ tour to open a new horizon for bilateral economic relations.

The president reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 11:40am by a special VVIP flight from Cambodia and he was escorted by Air Force jet in Bangladesh sky.

President Abdul Hamid received his Chinese counterpart on his arrival at the VVIP terminal at Dhaka Airport amid a rousing reception and 21-gun salute.

The Chinese President proceeded to the saluting dais accompanied by his Bangladesh counterpart, and received guard of honour and inspect the guard.

A 13-member high power delegation including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei, Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China Zhou Xiaochuan, is accompanying the Chinese President.

President Xi left the airport at about 12:00pm for his place of residence-Hotel Le Meridien.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive the Chinese President at the Prime Minister’s Office at about 3:00pm.

The official talks between the Chinese President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be held at Chameli from 3:10pm to 4:00pm.

They will witness the signing of MoUs and agreements which will be held at Karobi soon after the official talks. There will be a press statement after the signing ceremony.

The Chinese President will sign visitors’ book there before returning to his place of residence.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will meet the Chinese President at Rangamati Room of the hotel at about 4:35 retreat.

After the meeting, President Xi will head towards Bangabhaban and meet his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid at about 6:30pm.

The Chinese President will attend banquet preceded by cultural programme to be hosted by Hamid at Darbar Hall from at about 7:00pm-8:30pm.

On Saturday, the Chinese President will leave hotel for National Martyrs Memorial at 8:20pm

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq and the General Commanding Officer of the 9th infantry division will receive the Chinese President in Savar at 8:55am.

After attending the ceremony at the National Martyrs Memorial, the Chinese President will sign visitors' book and plant a sapling there.

President Xi will reach the airport straight from Savar and leave for Goa, India at about 10:00am on Saturday by the special VVIP flight. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will see him off at the airport.

Dhaka and Beijing are likely to sign an umbrella agreement to establish closer economic ties through strengthening investment and production capacity covering some 25 priority projects with a special focus on Bangladesh's infrastructure, communication and energy sectors.

Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Ma Mingqiang has recently said Chinese President Xi Jinping's forthcoming Dhaka visit will take the Bangladesh-China relations to a new height.

China has already termed its President's Bangladesh visit a 'milestone' for Bangladesh-China friendship.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou 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.

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.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque and senior officials of the ministry were present at the press conference held at the Foreign Ministry.