Dhaka,Bangladesh Global: Newly appointed Ambassador of Thailand to Bangladesh Thithiporn Chirasawadi made her first courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Sunday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen further bilateral relations, including cooperation in trade and investment, maritime connectivity, prevention of online scams, multilateral engagement, and people-to-people exchanges.
Chief Adviser Professor Yunus recalled his long association with Thailand and expressed hope that ties between the two countries would grow stronger during the Ambassador’s tenure.
Professor Yunus reiterated the interim government’s initiative to secure Bangladesh’s membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the 11-member regional bloc that has emerged as a major global economic and trade force. He expressed optimism that Thailand would support Bangladesh’s membership bid. In the process, Bangladesh already floated its bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
“We take it very seriously. It will connect South Asia with Southeast Asia,” he said, referring to Bangladesh’s planned ASEAN membership, he added.
The Thai ambassador said Bangkok was keen to begin negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement, which she noted would boost Thai investment in Bangladesh and expand trade between the two countries.
She also said that both nations are planning to launch a direct shipping route between Thailand’s Ranong Port and Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port. The service is expected to begin in March, following official talks between shipping authorities of the two countries scheduled for February.
The Chief Adviser emphasized the need for issuing more visas to Bangladeshi nationals, noting that an increasing number of Bangladeshis are travelling to Thailand for medical treatment, business, education, and tourism. SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.
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