e-News® | The NEWS Company…DHAKA, April 20, 2015 : Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali today underscored the need for developing workable political, economic and social-cultural programmes to realise full potential of Asian and Africans as the two nations are blessed with vast human and natural resources.
He said this while speaking at the ministerial meeting of the 60th anniversary of the Asian- African Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, according to a message received here today. The Minister underscored the importance of a truly interdependent and mutually supportive South-South cooperation in line with the Bandung Spirit.
He appreciated the significant strides that have been made by both Asia and Africa in terms of promoting respect for human rights, rule of law and democracy, improving the status of women, and working towards equality and non-discrimination. Referring to some of the daunting challenges before the two continents, including poverty, communicable diseases, climate change, natural disasters, inequitable market access, declining ODA and increasing foreign debt, he said these need to be addressed through concerted effort and effective coordination.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s steadfast support to the Palestinian people and to the creation of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. In this context, he reiterated the fundamental undertaking of the Bandung to support any just struggle against colonialism and foreign occupation. The minister also stressed the need for meaningfully addressing the long-standing resource and capacity constraints of the developing countries, LDCs in particular, during the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He also emphasized on the necessity of modeling a robust and broad-based global partnership in the light of the principles of mutual trust and respect, common but differentiated responsibility. The ministerial meeting has gathered 35 ministers from the countries of Asia and Africa. Foreign secretary, Bangladesh Ambassador to Indonesia and Director General (United Nations) of the ministry of foreign affairs accompanied the foreign minister at the Meeting.
On the sidelines of the conference, the foreign minister had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Myanmar, Libya and Gambia. Today’s Ministerial Meeting was preceded by the Senior Official Meeting held on 19 April 2015 where the Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque attended, the message added.