French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet met with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the State Guesthouse Jamuna on Tuesday, marking the start of a new chapter in bilateral relations and reinforcing France’s commitment as a long-term partner for Bangladesh.
During the inaugural meeting, the Ambassador thanked the Chief Adviser for his warm welcome and reiterated France and Europe’s desire for a sustained partnership. France welcomed the electoral process initiated by the interim government and commended CA Yunus’s leadership, said in the press release.
The European nation supports the holding of free, fair, and peaceful elections and welcomed the Bangladeshi authorities’ interest in deploying an EU electoral observation mission. The discussion highlighted the need to protect democracy from external threats, such as disinformation campaigns.
France also commended the interim government’s success in achieving macroeconomic stability. With Bangladesh’s LDC graduation scheduled for 2026, the EU is prepared to discuss next steps and be considered a reliable long-term partner. A proposed structuring partnership in civil aviation with Airbus was highlighted as a key demonstration of this commitment.
For over a decade, the French Development Agency (AFD) has invested approximately €2 billion in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity preservation projects in Bangladesh, with intentions to continue this close cooperation.
The long-standing cultural, scientific, and educational ties between the two nations, facilitated by the Alliances Françaises in Dhaka and Chittagong for over 65 years, were also acknowledged. France expressed a willingness to further develop student mobility, noting a growing number of Bangladeshi students choosing France for higher education.
Finally, France commended Bangladesh for hosting Rohingya refugees and reaffirmed its status as a constant contributor to their aid. France is determined to continue engaging with the international community to find a lasting solution to the crisis, having recently voted in favour of a relevant United Nations resolution.
