Bangladesh is looking to strengthen cultural cooperation and people-to-people ties with the United Kingdom, with a focus on institutional partnerships, cultural exchanges and promoting its creative economy.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Friday visited the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford to explore opportunities for cultural cooperation and support for Bangladeshi artists.

She visited the museum at its invitation, accompanied by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Muhammad Abdul Muhith and senior officials.

During the visit, Shama toured Climate, Culture, Care, an exhibition by Bangladesh-based artist Soma Surovi Jannat, marking the first solo exhibition by an artist based in Bangladesh at a museum in the UK.

She expressed her appreciation for the intensity, depth and creativity of Jannat’s work and also visited selected collections of the museum, accompanied by its curatorial team.

The visit reflects growing recognition of Bangladesh's contemporary art and the government's efforts to use cultural diplomacy as an important instrument of foreign policy to foster mutual understanding, build bridges between societies and strengthen enduring connections between the peoples of Bangladesh and the UK, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The State Minister also held discussions with Dr Mallica Kumbera Landrus, Keeper of Eastern Art and Curator at the Ashmolean Museum, on strengthening engagement between relevant authorities.

The discussions focused on institutional partnerships, cultural exchanges and initiatives to support Bangladeshi artists and develop the country's creative economy.