DHAKA, Dec 05, 2024 (BSS)- Bangladesh and the Czech Republic have convened the inaugural round of bilateral consultations at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prague.

Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin, and Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jirí Kozák led their respective delegations in the historic dialogue on Tuesday, a foreign ministry’s press release here today said.  
 
The meeting opened with Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin briefing his counterpart on Bangladesh's recent student-and citizen-led revolution in July and August.
 
He also outlined the Interim Government’s vision and ongoing reforms aimed at restoring accountability and transparency in the governance.

The discussions focused on identifying potential areas to deepen existing bilateral relations between the two countries, the press release said.

Both sides acknowledged significant opportunities to expand bilateral trade and agreed on the urgency of convening the first meeting of the Joint Commission on Trade Promotion and Economic Cooperation, established under the 2019 Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Foreign Secretary Jashim emphasized the importance of revitalizing ties between the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Czech Chamber of Commerce, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2013.

He urged for greater collaboration between chambers of commerce and small and medium- enterprises (SMEs) to unlock investment opportunities.

Besides, the Foreign Secretary called for expedited issuance of business visas and proposed signing an agreement on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments to foster stronger economic ties.

Both the countries agreed to intensify cooperation in science and technology, ICT, energy, and climate change. They also expressed their commitment to exploring manpower export initiatives, streamlining opportunities for Bangladeshi students seeking higher education in the Czech Republic, and fostering stronger people-to-people connections.

The talks also included discussions on potential cooperation between Bangladesh and the Czech Republic within the framework of the European Union, the press release said.