Dhaka and Seoul have expressed interest in deepening their bilateral ties and exploring a strategic partnership, according to a recent announcement. The fourth Foreign Ministry consultation between Bangladesh and South Korea was held in Seoul, where both sides discussed several key areas of cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Bangladeshi delegation was led by Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry’s Bilateral-Asia and Pacific Department, while the South Korean delegation was headed by Park Yun-Joo, the First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea.
The discussions covered political and economic cooperation, trade and investment, human resource development under the Employment Permit System (EPS), infrastructure development, transfer of Korean electronics and semiconductor production plants, energy collaboration, security concerns, and the Rohingya issue.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the statement added.
Additionally, progress on the decisions made during the meeting held in Dhaka in March 2022 was reviewed. New areas of collaboration were identified, particularly in science and technology, artificial intelligence, energy transformation, fisheries, biotechnology, climate change, agricultural mechanization, and the modernization of seaports and shipyards.
Both countries agreed to deepen political trust and combine development strategies. South Korea reaffirmed its commitment to support Bangladesh’s infrastructure projects through grants and loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), Korea Overseas Infrastructure Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Economic Development Partnership Fund (EDPF).
The meeting also emphasized encouraging Korean production plants and manufacturing houses to expand their industrial value chains in Bangladesh. South Korea reiterated its commitment to contributing to sustainable development in South Asia.
Bangladesh sought support for human resource development, regular immigration under the EPS program, and increased cooperation in technical education.
The Korean side commended Bangladesh’s humanitarian role in sheltering the Rohingya refugees and assured continued support for their repatriation to Myanmar.
Both parties highlighted the importance of visits by the heads of state or government to transform the Bangladesh-Republic of Korea relationship into a strategic partnership.
The meeting concluded with both sides committing to enhancing resources, strategic benefits, and cooperation for the development of their peoples.
Secretary Nazrul Islam thanked the Korean Vice Minister for the warm welcome and hospitality, expressing optimism about further strengthening the long-standing and friendly relations between Bangladesh and South Korea.