#thenewscompany -The United Kingdom has reiterated its pledge to continue tariff-free access for Bangladeshi goods to its market after leaving the European Union.
“I repeat the UK’s commitment to continue tariff-free market access for Bangladeshi goods entering the UK market after the UK leaves the European Union,” Permanent Under-Secretary of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sir Simon McDonald told the second Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Bangladesh held on Thursday at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London.
According to a press release issued here today, at the dialogue, the UK commended Bangladesh for hosting over one million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and stressed the need for their voluntary, safe, and dignified return to their homeland.
It said Bangladesh welcomed the UK’s assurance that it remains committed to keeping the international spotlight on the Rohingya crisis, and to supporting Bangladesh in its humanitarian response and the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
“The dialogue involved a fruitful exchange of views on political and bilateral issues, economic and development cooperation, security and defence cooperation, and exchanges on current global issues, including the Rohingya crisis,” the release said.
Permanent Under-Secretary of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sir Simon McDonald led the UK side at the Strategic Dialogue while Bangladesh side was headed by Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque.
The UK restated its commitment to maintaining a high quality service for Bangladeshi nationals at the visa application centres in Dhaka and Sylhet.
It looked forward to early implementation of the Cross-Border Higher Education Rules which will allow UK universities to operate in Bangladesh.
Both countries agreed on the importance of education for women and girls and the UK welcomed the significant progress Bangladesh has made in this area.
The UK congratulated Bangladesh for being on course to graduating to middle income country status and welcomed Bangladesh’s efforts and commitment to improving performance against the World Bank’s “Doing Business Index”.
The both sides agreed that trade was an important tool in tackling poverty, and that increasing bilateral trade could bring significant benefits to both countries.
The both sides affirmed their strong commitment to the implementation of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” including Sustainable Development Goals.
The UK and Bangladesh reiterated the importance of coordinated global action on climate change and reaffirmed their strong support for early and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement of 2015.
The both sides agreed to work closely in support of British Prime Minister Theresa May’s goal to cultivate a new, global and coordinated approach to eliminate forced, labour, modern forms of slavery and human trafficking.
The UK and Bangladesh reaffirmed their support for the Commonwealth and looked forward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in London in April 2018.
The both sides agreed to arrange appropriate celebrations in London and Dhaka in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and Bangladesh.
Commenting on the Strategic Dialogue, Sir Simon McDonald said he was glad to host the second Strategic Dialogue with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque in London.
“We held good discussions across a range of high priority areas for both the UK and Bangladesh,” he added.
Donald said the Strategic Dialogue was held at an important juncture for both countries as the UK prepares to leave the European Union and Bangladesh advances to middle income country status.
He said the UK looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit which takes place in London next month.
Commenting on the Strategic Dialogue, Shahidul Haque said the second Strategic Dialogue provided us an important opportunity to discuss how the both sides can encourage transition to a broader relationship between the UK and Bangladesh in the post-Brexit and post-LDC context.
“We agreed to planning now for a future development partnership focussed on innovation, knowledge, skills development and employment while continuing to ensure that no-one is left behind, especially women, girls, and people with disabilities,” he said.
Haque said Bangladesh appreciated the UK government’s firm commitment to continue to provide duty-free, quota-free access to Bangladeshi goods to the UK market after it left the European Union.
“We highlighted the valuable contribution that the British-Bangladeshi community continues to contribute to British society and prosperity,” he said.
The release said the meeting began with both sides noting the success of the inaugural Strategic Dialogue in Dhaka last year, and welcoming the progress made in bilateral relations.
The both sides underscored the importance of an exchange of visits and interactions at the highest political level, including the visit of the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to Bangladesh in February 2018.
The both sides briefed on their countries’ political developments domestically and internationally.
The first Strategic Dialogue was hosted by Bangladesh in March 2017 and the third Strategic Dialogue will be held in Dhaka in 2019.
After the Strategic Dialogue, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque held a joint meeting with Mark Field MP, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific and Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
They discussed the Rohingya crisis and the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in London in April 2018.
The foreign secretary gave a public lecture at the South Asia Center of London School of Economics (LSE) in the evening, where students, journalists and humanitarian activists were present.
He urged the students to keep the spotlight on the Rohingya crisis urging the international community to continue to take collective actions for early resolution to “this worst humanitarian tragedy of our time”.