Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said Bangladesh is firmly committed to maintaining cordial and friendly relations with all neighbouring countries in the spirit of its cardinal foreign policy objective of 'friendship to all, malice towards none.'
The minister made these observations during his meeting with the visiting Permanent Secretary-designate of Thailand, Sarun Charoensuwan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials said.
The minister stressed the importance of forging a stronger and more effective regional collaboration by facilitating greater connectivity in the region.
Momen called for mutually beneficial initiatives and cooperation in order to harness the complementarities existing between the two economies.
He requested more Thai support and expertise for improving the tourism sector of Bangladesh, which is endowed with immense potential.
He also encouraged more Thai investment in the infrastructure development initiatives of Bangladesh, agro-processing sector, the health and pharmaceutical sectors, etc., to further deepen the economic relations between the two countries.
The foreign minister sought a more pro-active role of Thailand in particular, and of ASEAN in general, in ensuring the expeditious and sustainable repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds to their homeland in Myanmar.
Dr Momen also requested the participation of the Thai Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister at the IORA Ministerial meeting in Dhaka next month.
The Thai permanent Secretary-designate lauded the high growth and massive developmental efforts going on in Bangladesh currently, which are rapidly transforming the country.
He also emphasised the importance of holding the Joint Commission Meeting as soon as possible at a mutually convenient time.He suggested to seriously look into concluding an FTA for further strengthening the bilateral trade and business.
During the call, both the dignitaries exchanged warm greetings on the milestone occasion of 50 years of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Thailand, which is being celebrated on both sides with fervour and enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Dr Masud Momen said Bangladesh has always been vocal about the necessity for enhanced cooperation among the countries of this region, and now in the wake of the global crisis resulting from the Ukraine war, such cooperation has become more urgent.
He was addressing a program to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Thailand
The visiting Thai permanent Secretary-designate and the Thai ambassador in Dhaka were also present at the programme held in the Foreign Ministry auditorium.
The visiting Thai diplomat said that Bangladesh and Thailand have historic relationship and both the countries will be immensely benefited by strengthening ties.
A commemorative stamp and an E-Book were launched in the programme to mark the 50 years of ties between the two countries.
