Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation : The newly appointed Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy paid a maiden courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka tuesday. The State Minister congratulated Marie Masdupuy for her appointment as the Ambassador of France to Bangladesh and expressed his optimism that during her tenure both countries can build on the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries that dates back to our Liberation War in 1971. The State Minister recounted the journey of Bangladesh from a development assistance-recipient country to the second largest economy in South Asia and one of the fastest growing economies in the world under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The French Ambassador shared her impression that the aspiration for Bangladesh’s becoming a developed country by 2041 is very much evident. As Bangladesh is widely considered as a success story for the EU’s Everything-but-Arms (EBA) scheme, the State Minister hoped that France will continue to support Bangladesh’s bid for a GSP+ facility beyond 2029 under the EU’s new GSP Regulation. Both sides also exchanged views on the bilateral cooperation issues of connectivity, climate change, clean and green energy technology, aviation etc., and the global food, energy and financial challenges in the wake of war in Ukraine. The State Minister assured Marie Masdupuy full support and cooperation during her tenure in Bangladesh.