A Talks on “Bangladesh-UK Partnership in the context of Indo-Pacific” was held this afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy. Visiting Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK, Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP presented the keynote address while Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam, MP chaired the Talks. Officers from MOFA, members of diplomatic corps, former Ambassadors, academicians, members from print and electronic media, among others, attended the Talks.
At the Talks, both sides highlighted that the renewed global focus on Indo-Pacific presents more opportunities for Bangladesh and the UK to consolidate and expand areas of cooperation between the two friendly countries, particularly in peace and security, sustainable development, trade and investment, science and technology, climate change, etc. for mutual benefit.
Before the Talks, Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs hosted a luncheon in honour of the visiting UK’s Minister of State at the State Guest House – Padma.
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK called on Hon’ble Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, MP on 12 March 2023 at MOFA.
Lauding the UK’s role in multilateral fora, particularly at the UN Security Council on Rohingya issue, Hon’ble Foreign Minister urged the international community, including the UK to play more decisive role in ensuring the voluntary, safe and sustainable repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh, to their homeland in Myanmar at an early date. The Hon’ble Foreign Minister also briefed the British Minister of State on the facilities created in Bhasan Char for the Rohingyas.
During the call, both sides also discussed various other bilateral and international issues of mutual interest and concerns, including bilateral trade and investment, cooperation on climate change, war in Ukraine, etc