Newly-appointed Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde on Wednesday said friendship between countries and people matter, perhaps now more than ever in light of the unprecedented global challenges that they face. 

"Together with the rest of team Sweden and our Bangladeshi partners I look forward to forging an even stronger partnership," said Ambassador Linde.

She made the remarks after presenting her credentials to President Md Abdul Hamid at a ceremony at Bangabhaban.

After the ceremony, the President and the Ambassador discussed the strong bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Sweden, highlighting the longstanding relations between the two countries. 

The relationship between Sweden and Bangladesh goes back nearly 50 years, said the Ambassador. 

Development cooperation has been a historical cornerstone of the bilateral ties, and the engagement cover areas such as health, human rights, gender equality, environment and climate change. 

Sweden has also allocated 90 million SEK to support Bangladesh in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Over the years, relations have broadened as trade and investment increased and today the ties are multifaceted and dynamic, said the Swedish Embassy.  

Sweden remains a partner in Bangladesh’s very substantial efforts in assisting nearly a million refugees from Myanmar in the context of the ongoing crisis, it said. 

Sweden continues to work in solidarity with the Government and the people of Bangladesh to provide support both to the Rohingya refugee population and the host communities, the Embassy said. 

Ambassador Berg von Linde joined the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2006. 

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She has served as Chief of Staff to the last two Swedish Ministers for International Development Cooperation. 

Her previous postings include Afghanistan, India and in the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations.