Dhaka’s strategic location to act as bridge between South and SE Asia: Fakhruddin

The chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, has said his government firmly believes that the current Bangladesh visit of vice-chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar Maung Aye would generate a giant leap in the bilateral relations of the two countries.
‘The strategic location of Bangladesh grants us a legitimate claim to act as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia, and we solicit extended cooperation from our friendly neighbour Myanmar,’ he told a banquet hosted by him and his spouse in honour of General Maung Aye and his spouse Daw Mya Mya San at the Sonargaon Hotel on Tuesday night.
The chief adviser and his wife Neena Ahmed received distinguished guest couple at the banquet venue. Members of general Aye’s entourage, speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, advisers, special assistants and distinguished personalities attended the banquet.
General Maung Aye also addressed the function, hoping that his tour would further consolidate the friendly relations between the two governments and the two armed forces.
‘The main purpose of our visit is to further cement and strengthen the existing friendly relations and cooperation between our two countries,’ he said.
Speaking at the dinner, the chief adviser noted that Myanmar is Bangladesh’s gateway to the ASEAN and as a new member of the ASEAN Regional Forum Bangladesh looks forward to working closely with Myanmar.
‘We hope to contribute to the ARF process to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond. Myanmar, likewise, has become an observer in the SAARC. We have also been cooperating together in BIMSTEC and Asia Cooperation Dialogue,’ he said.
The head of the caretaker government said the relationship between the two countries was expanding along a broad spectrum that embraces, among others, trade, commerce, investment and other economic and political issues.
‘I’ve absolutely no doubt that through dialogues held on a backdrop of friendship and understanding, we’ll be able to successfully address all our subjects of common interest, including the questions of refugees and maritime boundaries,’ he said.
He mentioned that the two countries hold similar views in various regional and international fora.
‘You’re all witness, this evening, to the beginning of a new chapter in our bilateral relations of the two neighbouring countries. The renewed momentum that our friendship gains today will bring far-reaching benefits for our two peoples in the days ahead,’ Fakhruddin told his audience.
The head of the caretaker government said Bangladesh and Myanmar were developing countries with similar economic challenges and both need to intensify their efforts to face these challenges together through closer political and economic links.
‘Our talks today were a clear reflection of our resolve in this regard,’ he said about the official talks between the two countries led by him and general Aye who came here earlier in the day at the head of a powerful delegation.