KATHMANDU- The Embassy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), organized a seminar on “Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity” this afternoon in Dhaka.
The Seminar is an event in the series held this year to mark the 50tl’ Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh. The deliberations in the Seminar covered a range of matters of mutual interest, including trade and investment, energy cooperation, connectivity, cultural and educational cooperation, and people- to-people exchanges, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Ghanshyam Bhandari highlighted how Nepal- Bangladesh relations have evolved over the last five decades in a spirit of good neighborliness. He also stressed the need for further collaboration to enhance economic partnership between the two countries.
The Chief Guest ofthe event Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Dr. A K Abdul Momen, MP, stressed the need to explore new avenues of cooperation to furlher deepen economic partnership. To ensure a smooth and sustainable graduation of both the countries from the LDC category, it is important that we share our experiences and best practices with each other, he stated.
Chair of the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), Dr. Swarnim Wagle highlighted the need to enhance collaboration in three key areas: sub-regional trade and economic partnership, cooperation in the sectors of clean energy, climate change and regional commons, and exercise of soft power through people-to-people links.
Rector of the Foreign Service Academy, Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams emphasized the need to identify synergies in matters such as trade, connectivity, LDC graduation, climate change, regional and sub-regional integration, among others.
Delivering his remarks, Director General of BIISS shed light on Nepal-Bangladesh relations in the past fifty years and stressed the importance of further consolidating bilateral cooperation.
The Seminar was attended by over 100 participants including diplomats, experts, officials, and academics.