Bangladesh and Malaysia will discuss wide-ranging bilateral, regional and international issues this evening (Sunday) with much focus on Rohingya issue as Bangladesh is seeking global efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah will have a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen at State guesthouse Padma at 7:30pm to discuss the issues of mutual interest, said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Issues related to trade, investment and manpower export are likely to be discussed in the meeting, he said.
The Malaysian Foreign Minister, who is now on his first trip to Bangladesh since assuming the post last year, will visit the Malaysian field hospital and several Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar district during his three-day visit, UNB reported.
Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, said the visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen the existing warm and friendly relations between the two countries.
It will also further boost the bilateral cooperation as well as reaffirm Malaysia's continued support to the government of Bangladesh in providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees, the statement reads.
Bangladesh and Malaysia have substantial trade and investment relations with a two way trade in 2018 valued at US$2.37 billion, a significant increase of 35.4 per cent from US$1.75 billion in 2017, data shows.
From January to April 2019, trade increased by 2.7 percent to US$793.1 million as compared to US$771.5 million for the same period in 2018.
Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh is Malaysia's second largest trading partner.