ZCZC
BSS-03
BANGLADESH-BRUNEI-STATEMENT-2 LAST
Brunei Sultan commended the prime minister on Bangladesh’s remarkable
economic development growth and outstanding achievements in the social
sectors under her prudent leadership.
He also congratulated Bangladesh for successfully fulfilling the
eligibility criteria set by the United Nations to be elevated and recognised
as a developing country.
Brunei Darussalam acknowledged the success of Bangladesh in the food and
agricultural sector and welcomed collaboration with Bangladesh in
agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors.
The two sides will explore potential bilateral trade in agricultural and
food products, and collaboration in farming and agro-processing taking into
account respective national development priorities.
The leaders acknowledged the potentials in enhancing bilateral trade and
encouraged active exchanges between their local business people to enhance
and explore collaboration and partnership to synergise their respective
strengths for maximising export opportunities.
They will actively consider the possibility of a preferential trade
arrangement under appropriate mechanism and to conduct a joint feasibility
study to this effect.
Expressing satisfaction on the friendly and long-standing relations between
the two countries, the leaders exchanged views on their bilateral relations
and encouraged both sides to explore ways to strengthen their cooperation to
elevate the relationship to new heights.
Recognising the importance of people-to-people exchanges in the
strengthening of bilateral relations, the leaders agreed to continue efforts
to foster wider and deeper collaboration among the academic institutions
through visits, training programmes, student and staff mobility, information
exchange, and research and development.
The two sides agreed to actively consider improving the connectivity
between the two countries and welcomed an early signing of the Air Services
Agreement.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over existing cooperation and
engagements among the defence forces of the two countries in mutually
beneficial areas including personnel training.
Both sides will encourage deeper cooperation in defence particularly in
capacity building, knowledge sharing, peace-building and humanitarian
operations.
Stressing the need for frequent exchanges of officials of all levels to
explore new potential areas for the mutual benefit, the leaders welcomed the
convening of the First Foreign Office Consultation in Dhaka on 9 September
2018 and looked forward to the Second Foreign Office Consultation in Bandar
Seri Begawan in 2020.
The leaders acknowledged the valuable contributions of expatriate workers
in the economic development of both sending and receiving states and in this
regard, encouraged their officials to explore the possibility of negotiating
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Labour Cooperation with consultation
mechanism.
The prime minister congratulated the sultan on the commendable progress of
Brunei Darussalam under his visionary leadership that had also contributed to
preserving the peace, stability and prosperity of Brunei Darussalam.
The premier also commended the sultan for the significant achievements in
the implementation of Brunei Darussalam’s strategic national development
policies under Wawasan 2035.
The sultan acknowledged the contributions of the government of Bangladesh
under the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to global peace, migration,
environment protection, development, and humanitarian operation as well as
their wide participation in the United Nations-led peacekeeping missions.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to the sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of
Brunei Darussalam and it’s people for according a warm welcome and generous
hospitality to her and the entourage and extended an invitation to the Sultan
to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenient time.
An official bilateral meeting led by the two leaders took place in a
cordial and friendly atmosphere at Istana Nurul Iman on Monday.
During the visit, the leaders witnessed the signing of six Memoranda of
Understanding on scientific and technical cooperation in agriculture,
fisheries and livestock; supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG); youth and
sports; and culture and arts.
The leaders also welcomed the Exchange of Notes on the visa waiver
arrangement for diplomatic and official passport holders for both countries.
The two leaders expressed conviction that these bilateral instruments will
take the relationship between the two countries to new heights in the future.
BSS/SH/AHJ/GMR/1030 hrs