Bangladesh in ACD's Connectivity, Water, Food, Energy Security Working Groups

The 2nd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit has endorsed Bangladesh's proposal to be a co-prime mover in the Working Groups on Connectivity and Food, Water and Energy Security pillars under the ACD Vision for Asia Cooperation 2030, BSS reports.

"It has been a foreign policy aspiration of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to work closely with all our Asian neighbours to realize the vision of a prosperous, peaceful and seamlessly connected Asian continent", said State Minister for Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam yesterday.

The Bangladesh state minister was leading the Bangladesh delegation to the Summit held in Thailand capital Bangkok, according to a message received here today.

In his country statement, he called for not only physical connectivity but also connectivity of peoples, cultures and ideas, connectivity of trade, investment, technology, enterprises and labour force to secure an inclusive growth and sustainable development in Asia.

Bangladesh offered to host the first ACD Working Group Meeting on Connectivity in Dhaka.

In line with the government's focus on a digital Bangladesh, the Alam expressed strong support for the science, technology and innovation pillar of the ACD Vision and informed that Bangladesh would remain engaged in hosting Working Group meetings in future.

The 3rd ACD Summit was attended by heads of state and government and foreign ministers of 34 ACD member countries.

They included the Amir of Kuwait, Sultan of Brunei, President of Iran, President of Sri Lanka, Prime Ministers of Bahrain, Bhutan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Vice President of
Myanmar, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Oman, and other ACD countries.

Earlier, the state minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia and Japan.

During their meeting, the Russian Deputy Minister for Foreign
Affairs, IgMurglov assured the Alam that in reaffirmation of Bangladesh-Russia historic friendship since 1971, Russia looks forward to long-lasting cooperation with Bangladesh particularly on the Ruppur nuclear power plant, a largest energy project of Russia in South Asia.

They also discussed return visit by President Putin, meeting between the two Prime Ministers during the upcoming BIMSTEC-BRICS Summit in Goa, India and strategic and security cooperation between the two countries.

During his meeting with the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, the state minister apprised him of the stringent security measures being taken by Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Bangladesh's tested friends such as the Japanese people as well as all foreign nationals in Bangladesh.

The Japanese DFM assured that Japan would continue to remain Bangladesh's strong development partner and informed that a Japanese delegation would soon visit Bangladesh.

Shahriar Alam assured that the government is fully prepared to receive the Japanese delegation and apprised him of the security situation.