Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visits to Malaysia and China have set a new benchmark for Bangladesh’s future relations with the international community.
Speaking in Parliament on Saturday during a motion of thanks on the prime minister’s foreign tour, the minister said the visits marked a significant shift in Bangladesh’s diplomatic and political approach.
He said the prime minister’s engagements would not only influence future political conduct but also define how Bangladesh builds relations with the international community.
“The visit has confirmed the direction of Bangladesh’s future relations with the world,” he said.
The minister also highlighted what he described as a shift in political culture, noting that large-scale public receptions were not organised before or after the Prime Minister’s foreign visits, calling it a departure from past practices.
The motion of thanks on the prime minister’s successful visits to Malaysia and China was placed in Parliament by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the start of the session, which was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.
Referring to economic cooperation, the finance minister said Malaysia remains an important partner for Bangladesh in the energy and labour sectors, along with trade and investment opportunities.
He said discussions with China focused on expanding trade, infrastructure development, and narrowing the trade gap to boost exports.
He added that the visits would help strengthen Bangladesh’s foreign policy framework and deepen strategic economic partnerships with both countries.
