During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s ongoing visit to China, Bangladesh is prioritising efforts to build confidence among foreign investors and deeply link the country’s engagement with international investment and partnership to fight climate change, said Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Tuesday.
“Bangladesh is simultaneously working to ensure that its business environment is open to all. We are pursuing deregulation and economic liberalisation to attract foreign investment. These issues, including the creation of a competitive environment and building global investor confidence, are being discussed simultaneously,” he said.
Mahdi Amin made the remarks while briefing reporters on the outcome of the first day’s engagements of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who is on a four-day official visit to China.
He said this is the Prime Minister’s first participation in a global forum outside Bangladesh as the head of government.
Through this visit, the Prime Minister’s key objective is to further secure foreign investment, create employment, and deeply link Bangladesh’s engagement with international investment and partnerships in areas such as climate resilience and technological advancement, the PMO spokesperson said.
He said Tarique Rahman, along with his spouse Dr Zubaida Rahman and a 21-member delegation, including eight ministers, state ministers and advisers, arrived in Dalian from Kuala Lumpur on Monday night.
Mahdi Amin, also Prime Minister’s adviser, said a high-level Chinese government delegation welcomed the Prime Minister with a red-carpet reception upon arrival, followed by a motorcade escort to the hotel. “We saw state protocol and police security throughout the route. We thank the Chinese government for this honour,” he said.
He said though the Prime Minister had limited time during his Malaysia visit, he held productive discussions with the Malaysian leadership on every important issue having Bangladesh’s interests.
First Global Forum Participation as Head of Government
About the Prime Minister’s participation in the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), also known as Summer Davos, Mahdi Amin said this is the Prime Minister’s first participation in a global forum outside Bangladesh as the head of government.
The event, themed “Innovating at Scale,” is currently being held in Dalian, bringing together heads of the states and governments, representatives from different countries and regions, businessmen and academics.
The WEF President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alois Zwinggi paid a courtesy call on Tarique Rahman, where discussions focused on the increase of investment, job creation, and socioeconomic development of the people of Bangladesh. Different programmes of the current government gathered praise here, said Mahdi Amin.
Later in the evening, the Prime Minister addressed the WEF session titled “Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape,” where he presented his government’s climate action plan pledged in its electoral manifesto.
Tarique Rahman highlighted five-year plans, including excavation and re-excavation of 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, water management development in the Padma and Teesta basins, plantation of 25 crore trees, expansion of green industries including jute-based production and electric vehicles, and increasing renewable energy’s share to 20 percent.
“Climate action is not a cost. We see this as a much-needed investment for prosperity, stability, and shared future,” Tarique Rahman was quoted as saying.
He also put emphasis on effective implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund, ensuring adequate and accessible climate finance, and balanced emphasis on mitigation and adaptation.
The Prime Minister called for stronger global cooperation based on technology transfer and shared responsibility.
He also attended a state dinner hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, along with the prime ministers of South Korea, Mongolia, Guinea, Montenegro, and Kazakhstan.
“So, the dinner has opened space for multilateral dialogue among seven heads of government,” said Mahdi Amin.
Tarique Rahman is scheduled to attend other programmes of the WEF Annual Meeting of the New Champions on Wednesday, where global leaders will discuss policy issues and development strategies.
Later, he will travel from Dalian to Beijing by a high-speed train for bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Noting that Tarique Rahman, being elected as the head of the government through votes, has earned love and affection of the people in the country, the PMO spokesperson said, “Similarly, in the international arena, he is received everywhere with the highest state honors and formalities as the dignified head of the government of a state.”