Bangladesh, Bhutan agree to strengthen ties at regional, multilateral levels

Bangladesh and Bhutan have agreed to strengthen cooperation at regional and multilateral levels on issues of mutual interest.

The issue was discussed during the fourth Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries at State Guest House Padma in Dhaka on Tuesday (August 18).

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Pema Lektup Dorji led their respective delegations at the meeting.

Alongside the regional ties, the discussion also focused on the prospects of signing a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

They reaffirmed their longstanding ties of friendship, trust and mutual respect. They also expressed satisfaction over continued progress in bilateral cooperation in politics, trade and investment, connectivity, education, health, culture, tourism, agriculture and people-to-people contact.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen high-level political contacts and regular consultations between the two governments.

They stressed the importance of turning the existing goodwill and political understanding into tangible outcomes.

The meeting also discussed expanding cooperation in culture, tourism, agriculture, human resource development, education, institutional links, youth exchanges and sports.

The two sides stressed the need to increase bilateral trade and strengthen private-sector cooperation. They also discussed expanding product coverage under the Bangladesh-Bhutan Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and exploring the prospects of an FTA.

Bangladesh expressed support for and interest in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) initiative. It welcomed its potential to promote sustainable development, regional connectivity and shared prosperity.

Bangladesh also expressed interest in exploring areas of cooperation of mutual interest and reiterated the need to expedite Bhutan’s Special Economic Zone activities in Kurigram.

The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening regional cooperation under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to promote greater regional integration.