Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to embark on his first foreign tour since assuming office four months ago, travelling to Malaysia and China on a six-day visit aimed at strengthening economic ties, boosting investment, expanding labour market opportunities and deepening strategic cooperation. The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Sunday afternoon for Kuala Lumpur on a two-day official visit to Malaysia before heading to China, where he will attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), commonly known as the "Summer Davos", and hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings.According to the proposed schedule, he will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:45pm on a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight for Kuala Lumpur. He will be accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman among the entourage.

The Prime Minister is expected to return to Dhaka on June 26, concluding his first overseas tour as the head of government.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam unveiled the details of the visit at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

Officials said Bangladesh's interest in expanding access to the Malaysian labour market remains the top priority of the Kuala Lumpur visit.

Officials said Bangladesh will strongly pursue Malaysia's support for its bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest trade bloc, during the visit, while also focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy and labour market access.

“Bangladesh's bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be strongly highlighted,” the foreign secretary told the press conference.

The Prime Minister will pay the official visit to Malaysia on June 21-22 at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The Malaysian Prime Minister paid an official brief visit to Bangladesh on October 4, 2024, at the invitation of former interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

During his visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will lead a high-level delegation from Bangladesh that includes Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon and other senior government officials.