Bangladesh, Australia look to strengthen ties
In a shift from aid to trade relations, Bangladesh and Australia want to deepen and widen their economic cooperation, as Bangladesh graduates from LDC status by 2024.
The two countries also look forward to ensure security, openness, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and closer collaboration to address common challenges and opportunities in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean regions, as well as sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The consensus came at the fourth foreign office consultation (FOC) between the two countries, held virtually.
Khondker M Talha, director general for East Asia and Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led Bangladesh's side, while Gary Cowan, first assistant secretary of North and South Asia Division at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, headed the Australian side.
Bangladesh High Commissioner in Canberra Sufiur Rahman and Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Jeremy Bruer also participated in the talks.
At the session, both parties stressed on greater engagement in agriculture, water resource management, power, energy and mineral resources, trade, investment, ICT, defense, and blue economy.
Currently, bilateral trade between the two countries is about $2 billion.
"We tried to tell them that Bangladesh has become a land of opportunities," an official concerned told The Daily Star.
"We said trade and investment is what we need. However, this does not mean we don't want aid at all, but that it should be aligned to national development priorities and facilitate trade and investment," he said.
The official said Dhaka and Canberra can develop partnership on human resource development, especially in vocational training, including curriculum development and teachers' training.
Australian High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer said Australia truly looks forward to stronger economic cooperation as Bangladesh graduates from LDC status.
He said both countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations because of historical ties, people to people contacts, shared values and common aspirations for peace, progress and prosperity.
A foreign ministry statement said Australia reaffirmed its commitment to support Bangladesh's recovery from COVID-19.
The talks also involved productive exchange of views on durable solution to the Rohingya crisis and on climate change.
Bangladesh stressed that if the Rohingyas could not be repatriated within a short span of time, it would have regional ramifications.
Officials also acknowledged shared security interests, including cooperation in cyber security, fighting transnational crime, countering terrorism, and human trafficking.
Both countries agreed to commemorate the 50th year of establishing diplomatic relations in 2022.
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