Hasina-Lee talks tomorrow

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her South Korean counterpart Lee Nak-yon are set to hold a bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) here tomorrow.

"The two leaders will hold the bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister's Office around 4.30 pm tomorrow," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS today.

Before the talks, he said, the two premiers will have a tete-a-tete at the same place.

The press secretary said the prime minister will receive Lee Nak-yon at the Tiger Gate of the PMO at 4:15 pm.

After the meeting, Bangladesh and South Korea will sign a number of instruments in the fields of trade and investment, diplomacy and culture in the presence of the two prime ministers, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told BSS.

The instruments are likely to be signed between Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA); and the Korea National Diplomatic Academy of South Korea and the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh, officials said.

"We will also sign a document for cultural exchange between Bangladesh and South Korea," the foreign minister said.

After signing of the instruments, the two leaders will deliver a joint press statement, the press secretary said.

Before leaving the PMO around 5:45 pm, the South Korean prime minister will sign the Visitor's Book.

Bangladesh rolled out red carpet as the South Korean premier landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here by a special flight at 5.40 this afternoon.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received the South Korean prime minister at the airport.

During the visit, Lee is likely to discuss ways of cooperation in the areas of security, trade and investment, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, according to a statement of South Korean Prime Minister's Office.

The foreign minister said apart from trade, investment and ICT sectors, Bangladesh will seek Korean support for resolving the protracted Rohingya crisis.

"We will definitely discuss the Rohingya crisis. It's now became our must-talk issue with everyone … Whoever would come here, we will seek their support to resolve the issue (Rohingya crisis)," he added.