Bangladesh capital Dhaka is now almost ready to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is to kick off the first visit by a Chinese head of state to Bangladesh in 30 years.[Special coverage]
The president is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Friday morning for a two-day visit, amid high hopes for a robust thrust towards taking the bilateral relations to a new height and exploring the full potential of economic and trade ties between the two countries.
Dhaka is all set to roll out a red carpet welcome to Xi on his visit, which will focus on connectivity and mega infrastructure development projects, along with signing of a number of instruments and bilateral deals.
Dhaka has already been decorated in honour of the visiting dignitary, with banners and placards welcoming the Chinese leader.
Posters with pictures of President Xi Jinping and his Bangladeshi counterpart Md Abdul Hamid, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are currently adorning all the major streets and junctions across the city.
Dhaka is also having a festive look with streets adorned with decorative lights and life-size cut-outs of President Xi Jinping, President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Posters and banners have been planted on the side of the road, inscribed with wishes to boost bilateral ties between the countries.
"Heartiest welcome to his excellency Mr. Xi Jinping President of China," reads one poster.
Thousands of such posters also inscribed with "Long Live Bangladesh-China Friendship" have been put up along the around 14-km stretch from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to the main city, along with Xi's.
Various localities of Dhaka have also been decorated to welcome Xi. Security across the city has been tightened as gun-totting personnel seen in all the prominent areas.
Hundreds of welcome arches with cut-outs of Mr. Xi, Hamid and Hasina added to the festival-like atmosphere.
"We are longing for an eternal Bangladesh-China Friendship," one arch read.
Another was dedicated to "You are cordially welcome to Bangladesh".
Another arch said, " Long live his excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, President of China".
