Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday sought a pro-active role from Thailand in particular, and from the ASEAN in general, for ensuring timely and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya people to their homeland in Myanmar, reports UNB.
Momen also requested participation of the Thai Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister at the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Ministerial meeting in Dhaka next month.
The issues were discussed when visiting Permanent Secretary-designate of Thailand Sarun Charoensuwan met Momen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
During the meeting, they exchanged warm greetings on the occasion of the 50 years of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Thailand, which is being celebrated on both sides with fervor and enthusiasm.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh is firmly committed to maintaining cordial and friendly relations with all the neighboring countries in the spirit of its cardinal foreign policy objective of 'friendship to all, malice towards none.'
He stressed the importance of forging a stronger and more effective regional collaboration by facilitating greater connectivity in the region.
Momen called for mutually beneficial initiatives and cooperation to harness the complementarities existing between the two economies.
He also encouraged more Thai investment in the infrastructure development initiatives of Bangladesh, agro-processing sector, health and pharmaceutical sector, to further deepen the economic relations between the two countries.
The Thai permanent Secretary-designate lauded the high growth and massive developmental efforts going in Bangladesh currently, which is rapidly transforming the country.
He also emphasized on holding the Joint Commission Meeting at a mutually convenient time at the earliest and suggested concluding an FTA for further strengthening the bilateral trade and business.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
