State Councilor and Head of China’s Ministry of National Defence Wei Fenghe has paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at Dhanmondi in the city.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam was also present.

The Chinese minister landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:45am on Tuesday.

He is expected to call on President M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban and meet Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed.

Foreign Ministry officials said the Chinese minister will discuss issues, including cooperation to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Fenghe’s visit follows Bangladesh’s decision to join China’s Emergency Vaccine Storage Facility for COVID for South Asia amid an uncertainty over getting required vaccine doses from India.

The Chinese defence minister will leave Dhaka in the afternoon for Colombo.