Thailand visit will be milestone in bilateral ties: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the official visit to Thailand has ushered in a new era of fruitful partnership between the two countries. The visit will be a milestone in bilateral relations.

She highlighted the details regarding the April 24-29 Thailand visit during a press conference held at her official Ganabhaban residence at 11:30 am on Thursday (May 2).

At the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, I visited Thailand on April 24-29, 2024 on a bilateral visit and to attend the 80th session of the UN-ESCAP. Several ministers, state ministers, advisers and senior government officials were my entourage.

The 80th annual session of UN-ESCAP was held on April 22-26, 2024 in Bangkok.

In the morning on April 25, I gave a speech on achieving the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals through strengthening cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region at a session of UN-ESCAP.

I expressed our interest in sharing our own innovated and implemented development models with other countries in the region through the UN-ESCAP side by side with highlighting the remarkable development experience of Bangladesh. I reiterated my call to international community to become vocal against all forms of aggression and atrocities and to say ‘no’ to war.

I called upon the world community, including the Asia-Pacific region to work together to stop continued genocide in Palestine and ongoing conflict in Myanmar and resolve the Rohingya issue.

During the call on His Majesty the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan at the Thai royal palace, I expressed my gratitude to the King and the Queen for the long-standing friendship of Thailand and hoped that the two countries will work together to strengthen bilateral relations.

During the meeting, apart from other bilateral issues, I sought Thailand’s cooperation in quick repatriating of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya community) to their homeland.

In the meeting, we held constructive discussions to further develop the existing long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries. At this time, I sought cooperation of Thailand as a valuable partner in transforming Bangladesh into a knowledge-based, digitalized and climate resilient country and making Bangladesh a smart country by 2041.

In the meeting, the review of the “Free Trade Agreement” with a view to expanding trade and increasing imports and exports between the two countries as well as other issues of common interest were discussed. Notable topics included investment, people-to-people contacts, cultural exchange, tourism cooperation, energy security, agriculture and food security, health, land and sea connectivity, development cooperation, and regional and international cooperation.

At this time, I requested the Thai Prime Minister to encourage the participation of the private sector, especially investment in our Special Economic Zones and Hi-Tech Parks, to keep the balance of trade between the two countries.

I requested the Thai Prime Minister to consider the issue of granting duty-free access to some Bangladeshi goods, including ready-made garments, for a logical period.

As an agricultural producing country, we can utilize Thailand’s experience and technological expertise to strengthen food security through increasing cooperation in the agricultural sector. That is why I discussed about increasing our cooperation with Thailand.

We discussed increasing cooperation in education and health sectors. I also urged Thailand to invest in the health sector of Bangladesh.

We agreed to strengthen economic relations between Bangladesh and the Thailand by quickly launching direct coastal shipping between Thailand’s Ranong Port and Chittagong Port with the aim of economic development through seamless regional connectivity.

Earlier, on April 29, the premier returned home from Bangkok wrapping up her six-day official visit to Thailand.

During her visit, Sheikh Hasina had a bilateral talk with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin at the Government House (the Thai Premier’s Office) as five bilateral documents were signed on visa exemption, cooperation on energy, tourism and customs matters, and negotiation of free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Thailand in the presence of the two leaders.