France is keen on strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh
for mutual economic and social benefits overcoming challenges ahead, a French
diplomat in Dhaka said on Wednesday.
“We now have to keep working together to combine our
strength in order to consolidate mutual economic and social benefits and to
face the numerous challenges to come,” said Chargé d’affaires at the French
Embassy in Dhaka Guillaume Audren de Kerdrel in a message marking the French
National Day that falls on July 14.
He assured that the French Embassy will continue to play an
active role to further strengthen the friendly relations between the two
countries.
While Bangladesh is still facing the challenges of climate
change, France commends the leading role of Bangladesh in the Climate
Vulnerable Forum.
“France remains at the disposal of Bangladesh in this area
as well as in the field of infrastructures, particularly transportation, access
to clean water, energy and telecommunications,” said Kerdrel.
He said this year is a great and special year as France and
Bangladesh celebrated on 14th February 2022 the 50th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relationships between both countries.
The diplomat described the year 2022 as a milestone in many
ways for Franco-Bangladeshi cooperation as the two countries are also
celebrating the 30 years of archeological cooperation and exploration of the
large site of Mahasthangarh, north of Bogura.
"This archaeological cooperation is the longest
standing cooperation between our two countries. With excavations being carried
out jointly by French and Bangladeshi archaeologists, this endeavour stands as
a perfect symbol of our two countries cooperating by sharing knowledge and
resources to work together towards a common goal,” he mentioned.
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the French diplomat
said his country did display vaccine solidarity, in particular within the
framework of the Covax facility with the support of the vaccination program of
the French Development Agency.
The French Development Agency, which opened its Dhaka office
in 2012, has become a key player in development cooperation in Bangladesh with
projects in many different areas such as energy, water, transportation, health
and finance.
On May 12th 2022, a host country agreement between the
government of France and the government of Bangladesh was signed to legally
seal the establishment of the AFD as a Development Partner of Bangladesh.
On this occasion AFD renewed its commitment in supporting
green and inclusive growth in Bangladesh.
Since the beginning of the shared history, France has been a
committed partner in its relationship with Bangladesh.
“Our country has heard the voice of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: in 1971, André Malraux relayed his call to
support the freedom and independence fighters,” said the French diplomat.
Two years later, he was received with great honors in Dhaka
by the President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A recent publication in France, “Malraux and Bangladesh”
retraces in detail this founding moment and the symbol of our friendship and
this beautiful book is currently being translated into Bangla.
The official visit of the Prime Minister to France from
November 9th to November 13th of 2021 has reflected the strong bond and the
friendship between our two countries, said the CDA at the French embassy.
France and Bangladesh once again reaffirmed their
determination to strengthen partnerships in the field of blue economy, defense
and science in particular.
France celebrates its National Day in commemoration of the
storming of the Bastille in Paris on the 14th of July 1789.
It remains the powerful symbol of the French revolutionary
fight for emancipation from a then absolute monarchy, followed a few weeks
later by the landmark proclamation of the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and
of the Citizen”, opening the long and arduous way to the establishment of
democracy and the rule of law.
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