Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation : The visiting Permanent Secretary-designate of Thailand, Sarun Charoensuwan paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs sunday. During the call on, both the dignitaries exchanged warm greetings on the milestone occasion of the 50 Years of Diplomatic Ties between Bangladesh and Thailand, which is being celebrated on both sides with fervor and enthusiasm. In his remarks, Foreign Minister shared that Bangladesh is firmly committed to maintaining cordial and friendly relations with all the neighboring countries in the spirit of its cardinal foreign policy objective of ‘friendship to all, malice towards none.’ He stressed the importance of forging a stronger and more effective regional collaboration by facilitating greater connectivity in the region. Foreign Minister called for mutually beneficial initiatives and cooperation in order to harness the complementarities existing between the two economies. He requested more Thai support and expertise for improving the tourism sector of Bangladesh, which is endowed with immense potential. He also encouraged more Thai investment in the infrastructure development initiatives of Bangladesh, agro-processing sector, health and pharmaceutical sector, etc. to further deepen the economic relations between the two countries. Foreign Minister sought a more proactive role of Thailand in particular, and of the ASEAN in general, for ensuring an expeditious and sustainable repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds, to their homeland in Myanmar. Dr. Momen also requested participation of the Thai Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister at the IORA Ministerial meeting in Dhaka next month. The Thai permanent Secretary-designate lauded the high growth and massive developmental efforts going in Bangladesh currently, which is rapidly transforming the country. He also emphasized on holding the Joint Commission Meeting at a mutually convenient time at the earliest. He suggested seriously looking into concluding an FTA for further strengthening the bilateral trade and business.