Dhaka: The Chinese government has chalked out yearlong events to be held in Bangladesh and China to mark the ‘Year of Friendship and Exchanges’, including high-level visits, fairs, cultural events, to further strengthen the bilateral relations.

There is a plan also to host an event named “Day of China-Bangladesh Friendship and Exchanges” in major cities in Bangladesh this year as part of yearlong events, a senior official told news agency UNB on Tuesday.

Relevant ministries on foreign affairs, cultural affairs, religious affairs, education, science and technology, tourism, oceanic administration, telecommunications and public securities have primarily chalked out the events.

Bangladesh and China have dedicated 2017 as the ‘Year of Friendship and Exchanges’ between the two countries when Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Bangladesh on October14-15, 2016 seeking a ‘promising future’.

As part of the yearlong events, Chinese Embassy in Dhaka in association with Bangladesh-China Friendship Centre and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will host a performance programme on January 16.

Henan Art Troupe of China will perform on the day at 6:30pm at National Theatre in the city.

There will be a number of seminars on Bangladesh-China relations both in Bangladesh and China in the current year.

China will also sponsor Bangladeshi young scientists to work for a short time as part of the yearlong events.

Meanwhile, the formal mechanism of cooperation on counter-terrorism is likely to be kicked off this year.

Bangladesh and China signed 27 deals worth about $24.45 billion in soft loan for various key development projects apart from signing of 13 joint venture agreements involving $13.6 billion of Chinese investment in Bangladesh.

Together, the sum of $38.05 billion is the biggest ever assistance pledged by any single country to Bangladesh.