ASEAN Missions Vow to Strengthen Ties with Bangladesh
ASEAN missions in Bangladesh remain firmly committed to strengthening their longstanding partnership with Bangladesh, ASEAN Dhaka Committee (ADC) Chairman and Malaysian High Commissioner Mohd Shuhada Othman has said.
“We value Bangladesh as a close friend and an increasingly important partner in South Asia,” he said at a reception marking the 59th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the capital on Monday night.
Othman said Bangladesh and ASEAN could complement each other’s strengths, creating mutually beneficial opportunities and contributing to shared prosperity.
Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to Malaysia as his first official visit to an ASEAN member state, the envoy said the gesture underscored the importance Bangladesh attaches to its broader engagement with ASEAN.
He said ASEAN, home to more than 680 million people and one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions, has immense potential, while Bangladesh brings significant strengths, particularly its large and youthful population.
“From trade and investment to education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, these efforts reflect both the warmth of our existing friendship and the immense potential for deeper cooperation,” he said.
Speaking as the chief guest, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid sought ASEAN countries’ continued support for Bangladesh’s application to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner.
“We remain hopeful that ASEAN’s relations with Bangladesh will grow ever more meaningful, particularly with Bangladesh’s formal acceptance into the ASEAN family,” he said.
The minister said the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has accorded high priority to relations with ASEAN and its 11 member states.
Bangladesh has already undertaken several initiatives to enhance sectoral cooperation with ASEAN, including a nearly US$0.5 million fisheries and aquaculture project, while projects in tourism, ICT, MSMEs and culture are also underway.
Aminur Rashid said centuries-old historical and cultural links, strong people-to-people contacts and robust trade relations provide a strong foundation for taking Bangladesh-ASEAN relations to the next level.
Heads of ASEAN missions, diplomats stationed in Dhaka and representatives from business, civil society and the media attended the reception.
