Shawdesh desk:

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh and Finland should observe the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2022 in a befitting manner through high-level political visits, investment dialogues and cultural exchanges.

Momen said this during his virtual meeting with his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto on Tuesday.

During their hour-long meeting, the two Ministers recalled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s meeting with the President Sauli Niniistö of Finland in Helsinki in June 2019.

The two Ministers stressed the importance of regular exchange of high-level visits and diplomatic consultations.

The Finnish Foreign Minister congratulated Bangladesh for the projected graduation from the LDC status in 2026.

Both Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction at the business dialogue held between the two sides in December 2020.

Momen urged Finland to explore investment opportunities in Special Economic Zones and HI-TECH Parks in Bangladesh.

The two Ministers discussed the possibility of initiating work on a bilateral Agreement on Double Taxation.

The Finnish Foreign Minister appreciated Bangladesh’s humanitarian gesture to the forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar.

He assured of remaining engaged with the situation leveraging Finland’s engagement in certain mediation efforts in Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Momen urged Finland and other EU Member States to work towards early, voluntary repatriation of the Rohingya in safety and dignity.

The two Ministers agreed to enhance cooperation on climate change issues, including through the Coalition of Finance Ministers on Climate Change that Finland co-Chairs.

Foreign Minister Momen flagged Bangladesh’s work on the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, Presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), and hosting of a regional office of the Global Centre on Adaptation.

Foreign Minister Haavisto recognized the contribution of Bangladesh diaspora to the Finnish society.

The two Ministers agreed to work on cultural exchange and knowledge partnership for fostering human connectivity.

Bangladesh’s non-resident Ambassador to Finland Md. Nazmul Islam also joined the meeting.