_: Bangladesh and Luxembourg on Monday agreed to explore new opportunities to further widen and deepen the existing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The two countries came to the consensus when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Luxembourgian counterpart Xavier Bettel talked over a videoconference at 4pm for about half an hour.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said both the leaders discussed various issues of cooperation and exchanged greetings during the videoconference.
At the beginning, the two leaders congratulated each other on 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and for maintaining friendly cooperation all through.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned Luxembourg as a steady supporter and trusted partner in the ongoing socioeconomic development journey of Bangladesh, and thanked ‘Team Europe’ for its support to Bangladesh to alleviate the pandemic impact through budgetary support and vaccine donation.
She briefed Xavier Bettel about vaccination progress and the Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.
Hasina recalled a congratulatory message from the Grand Duke of Luxembourg on the occasion of Bangladesh Independence Day last year while celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its Independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Hasina sought Luxembourg’s support regarding the repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Xavier Bettel reaffirmed Luxembourg’s continued support on this issue.
Xavier Bettel expressed satisfaction as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) awarded the Luxembourg-supported ‘Friendship Hospital’ building for 2021 located in Shyamnagar, Satkhira.
Hasina also lauded the architecture of the building as the designer is a Bangladeshi.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to conclude the bilateral Air Services Agreement soon as Luxembourg is looking forward to establishing direct cargo flights on a priority basis.
They also expressed their collective willingness to boost trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Hasina praised Luxembourg’s expertise in financial sector management and would like to avail of the opportunity to benefit from it.
Prime Minister Bettel mentioned with happiness that over 1,000 Bangladeshi, mostly students, live in his country.
Hasina informed Xavier Bettel that Bangladesh will officially graduate from the UN LDC category in 2026 and asked for his government’s cooperation with the European Union for trade preferences such as the GSP+ in the EU market during the post-graduation transition period.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister agreed in principle to extend wholehearted support for Bangladesh. Both leaders also discussed many climate change issues of common concern.
Hasina welcomed Luxembourg’s climate-smart investments in infrastructure, water treatment, urban development, and renewable energy.
At the end, Xavier Bettel invited Hasina to visit Luxembourg at her convenience.
In turn, Hasina also invited Xavier Bettel to visit Bangladesh to see its ongoing socio-economic progress.
Source: United news of Bangladesh