DHAKA, Feb 27, 2020 (BSS) – Cambodia today assured Bangladesh that it
would support repatriation process of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar
within the framework of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the
platform that both Phnom Penh and Naypyidaw share.
The East Asian nation also hoped that Bangladesh’s bilateral consultations
with Myanmar would lead an early solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The assurance came when Bangladesh sought Cambodia’s support in the
Rohingya repatriation issue during the first ever Joint Commission (JC)
meeting between the two countries held at the state guest house Meghna in the
capital.
State Minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam led an 18-member
Bangladesh delegation at the meeting while Cambodian Secretary of State of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Eat Sophea led her 27-member
delegation.
During the meeting, the two sides comprehensively discussed the present
state of bilateral relations covering areas such as trade and investment,
agriculture and fisheries, science and technology, culture, defence, ICT,
tourism, and parliamentary friendship.
Bangladesh handed over to the Cambodian side a three year Cultural
Exchange Programme (CEP) to celebrate the Mujib Year jointly in both
countries.
The two countries stressed on expanding bilateral trade and investment and
sharing each other’s practices and strategies in implementing the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
The two sides agreed that the Technical Working Group Meeting on training
cooperation will be held in Dhaka while Joint Working Group on tourism
cooperation in Cambodia.
They also underscored the importance of direct air connectivity and
stressed the need for early signing of the Air Services Agreement between the
two countries.
It was agreed that the Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh and the Toul
Sleng Genocide Museum of Cambodia would share best practices through
arrangement of joint seminar.
Both sides welcomed the finalization of the proposed MoU on Defence
Cooperation under which members of armed forces of both countries would take
part in various training and capacity building programmes in both countries.
It was agreed that parliamentarians of two countries would take part in
exchange programmes under the framework of the Bangladesh-Cambodia
Parliamentary Friendship Group.
At the meeting, a MoU on establishment of Foreign Office Consultations was
also signed.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand
concurrently accredited to Cambodia Md. Nazmul Quaunine and Cambodian
Ambassador to India concurrently accredited to Bangladesh UNG Sean were also
present.
The MoU on establishing the JC framework was signed between Bangladesh and
Cambodia in Dhaka in June 2014 during the visit of Cambodian Prime Minister
Hun Sen.