South Korea’s special presidential envoy for “future strategy” Jang Sung Min on Wednesday said Bangladesh can achieve further economic development in a very comprehensive way and offered his country’s cooperation to reach to the next level of development.
“We can be a stronger partner for Bangladesh. We want to make the relations much wider and deeper. We have much more to do,” he told reporters at a press conference at a hotel in Dhaka.
South Korean Ambassador to Lee Jang-keun and senior officials from the South Korean government were present at the media interactions.
The presidential envoy laid emphasis on more exchanges between the two countries and his visit is the beginning as the two countries eye the next 50 years of broader cooperation.
Responding to a question regarding Korean EPZ in Chattogram, he said that both sides are discussing quite closely together to find the solution.
“When we look at the blueprint to design our next 50 years, of course, we have to also think about trying to prevent these kinds of issues from coming up in the future,” the envoy said.
He also said Bangladesh has achieved tremendous economic progress in recent years, and its growth rate is faster than that of Korea.
He met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and discussed ways of future cooperation as they look at the blueprint to design their next 50 years of deeper cooperation.
A very close advisor to Korean President Yeol, Min was leading an eight-member delegation to Bangladesh.
During the meeting with Dr Momen, the Korean presidential envoy informed that the Republic of Korea (ROK) cherishes her 50 years diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and would like to enhance the relations to a higher level in the next 50 years ahead.
He referred to their Indo-Pacific Strategy and the plan to take the ROK in a pivotal position in the international arena.
Dr Momen acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the ROK in the development of the export-oriented garment industry in Bangladesh, which vows for enhancing the existing engagements between the two countries particularly in terms of trade, commerce, investment, scientific and technical assistance, human resource development, manpower sector, etc.
The discussion also included cooperation in renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, ship building, deep sea fishing and the Rohingya issue.
The South Korean side acknowledged the impressive development achievements of the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Presidential envoy hoped that both Bangladesh and ROK will lead to further comprehensive cooperation in the days ahead.
The Korean presidential envoy handed over to Dr Momen a commemorative logo made on the occasion of the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and ROK, which will be completed in December this year.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he reiterated Korea’s expectation to enhance the bilateral relations with Bangladesh in the next 50 years on the basis of common values of democracy, rule of law, human rights, freedom, peace and prosperity.
The Korean Presidential envoy also visited the “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum” on Tuesday to pay tribute to Bangabandhu after his arrival in Dhaka.