MINSK, 12 December (BelTA) – Ways to revitalize relations between Belarus and Bangladesh at the high and highest levels were discussed during the visit of Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas to Bangladesh, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in India.
Andrei Dapkiunas met with Abdul Momen, Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The parties welcomed long-standing mutual support and cooperation between Belarus and Bangladesh in international organizations. They agreed to keep providing such support in the future.
The parties also discussed the situation with displaced Rohingya people who fled to Bangladesh. “The Bengali minister gave a detailed account of the situation with the Rohingya refugees and a huge social burden the country undertook in the context of the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims from the neighboring state of Myanmar. The Belarusian and Bengali diplomats emphasized the importance of the implementation, as soon as possible, of the 2017 agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. They noted that it might be necessary to involve international observers to guarantee the safety of refugees who are going back,” the diplomatic mission informed.
Andrei Dapkiunas also met with Minister of Commerce Tipu Munshi to review the implementation of the agreements reached at the first session of the Belarus-Bangladesh commission in April. They also discussed ways the Ministry of Commerce can assist with signing an additional contract to supply Belarusian vehicles and farm machines to the tune of $17 million to Bangladesh. The parties also discussed cooperation prospects in this field.
It was noted that Belarus will preside over the Eurasian Economic Union in 2020. In this regard, the parties called for stepping up talks between the EAEU and Bangladesh in the context of economic integration in the Eurasian space.
“Taking part in the negotiations were also top executives of Amkodor, MAZ and Promagroleasing. The parties pointed to the mutual interest not only in the supplies of Belarusian vehicles and road construction machines, but also in using Belarusian solutions and technology in selective breeding and in helping Bangladesh build up its capacity in potato production and export,” the embassy informed.
Andrei Dapkiunas also met with Yeafesh Osman, Minister of Science and Technology. “The parties called for arranging another session of the bilateral commission for science and technology as soon as possible. This commission is to convene in Bangladesh in 2020 to discuss the most promising avenues of sci-tech cooperation with a focus on information technology and agriculture,” the diplomatic mission informed.
Heritage preservation and commemoration of war heroes and victims were discussed at the meeting with Liberation War Affairs Minister Mozammel Haque. The Bangladeshi side was particularly interested in Belarus' expertise and knowledge in museum affairs, memorial art and architecture. In 2020 Bangladesh will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the nation, and in 2021 Bangladesh will mark the 50th anniversary of the country's independence.
“The Bangladeshi minister recalled the invaluable support provided by the USSR to Bangladesh as the country was fighting for its independence in 1971. The parties agreed that the history of brotherly support is an important foundation for building relations between Belarus and Bangladesh,” the embassy emphasized.
Upon the initiative of Belarus' Honorary Consul in Bangladesh Aniruddha Kumar Roy, the Dhaka Business Club hosted a Belarus-Bangladesh business forum that brought together Bangladeshi officials interested in promoting cooperation with Belarus, representatives of the business community and mass media.
A series of arrangements were reached to discuss partnerships in satellite communication and information technology.
