C T Online Desk: In a bilateral meeting on Monday in Dhaka, France and Bangladesh expressed their willingness to step up defence cooperation with ‘a focus on naval, air, and terrestrial capacity.’
Both countries condemn unconstitutional change of government and unlawful military takeover in any country, and call for urgent and unimpeded humanitarian assistance for those displaced due to conflicts, violence and atrocity crimes, according to a joint statement issued following the bilateral talks between French president Emmanuel Macron and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office.
‘Bangladesh and France recall the Letter of Intent on Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defence signed between the two governments during the visit of prime minister Sheikh Hasina to France in November 2021 and state their willingness to step up defence cooperation, with a focus on naval, air, and terrestrial capacity, including equipment and transfer of technology, in support of Bangladesh’s strategic autonomy,’ said the statement.
Macron offered Bangladesh to do more in the country’s transport sector and thanked prime minister Hasina for her confidence in European aeronautics and commitment to the purchase of 10 aircraft from Airbus for the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Addressing a joint press conference after the bilateral meeting, he said that they wanted to contribute to the emergence of ‘Smart Bangladesh’ as called by the government of Sheikh Hasina.
‘We want to contribute to the emergence of the Smart Bangladesh you’re calling for. That’s why we’ve spoken at length today and signed a number of important agreements,’ Macron said, adding, ‘We’ll be doing even more in the field of transport, and I’d like to thank you for your vote of confidence in European aeronautics and your commitment to the 10 Airbus A350s.’
In her speech, Sheikh Hasina said that France reiterated its commitment to stand by the people and the government of Bangladesh in the implementation of Vision-2041 by continuing privileges for the country under the trade facilitation of the European Union under the GSP Plus scheme.
After the bilateral talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of two instruments—a ‘Credit Facility Agreement of $200 million between Economic Relations Division, Bangladesh and the French Development Agency, France on ‘Improving Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Project’ and a Letter of Intent on Cooperation between Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited and Airbus Defence and Space SAS, France for the establishment of Bangabandhu-2 Earth Observation Satellite System.
‘Bangladesh and France regard sovereignty and strategic autonomy as key principles for a stable, multi-polar world. Both countries, therefore, welcome enhanced cooperation in strategic sectors,’ said the joint statement.
Reiterating their commitment to territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations, they affirmed that the war in Ukraine constituted a violation of international law, in particular of the UN Charter, and was a serious threat to the rules-based international order.
They also expressed their support for all efforts towards the establishment of a just and lasting peace in line with the principles of the UN charter.
‘France thanked Bangladesh for its commitment concerning the acquisition of 10 A350 from Airbus. The two countries underline as well the importance of continued cooperation on improved air traffic management in all airports of Bangladesh,’ said the statement.
It said that the two countries reiterated their commitment to maintaining the situation and repatriation of Rohingyas high on the international agenda and the need to create conditions inside Myanmar for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return to their homeland Myanmar at an early date.
The president of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Dhaka on Sunday evening on a two-day visit at the invitation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
He paid homage to the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 on Monday.
He graced the private studio of musician and instrumentalist Rahul Ananda of the popular band ‘Joler Gaan at his rented house in the city’s Dhanmondi area on Sunday night after joining the banquet hosted by Sheikh Hasina in his honour at a city hotel.
Before concluding his visit, Macron took a boat trip on the river Turag, where he was accompanied by information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud and Awami League’s Member of Parliament Saber Hossain Chowdhury.
He left Dhaka on Monday afternoon. Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen saw him off at the airport.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina visited France in November 2021 at the invitation of president Macron.
France is a major export destination for Bangladesh, as the country exported goods, mostly readymade garment items, worth $3.29 billion in the financial year 2022-2023, according to Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau.
Macron is the first French president to visit the country in over three decades, since François Mitterrand in 1990.
