Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the foundation of Asean’s success lies in its adherence to the principles of mutual respect, non-interference and consensus-building, and these values resonate with Bangladesh, as they align with Dhaka’s own principles of peaceful coexistence and respectful engagement with the international community.
He was speaking at the Asean Day celebration event in Dhaka at the embassy of Thailand on Tuesday.
Asean Day is the annual commemoration of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) – a regional intergovernmental organization of ten countries in Southeast Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It was founded on August 8, 1967.
Asean member states are home to a total of 661 million people with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.08 trillion and trade exceeding $2.7 trillion.
The foreign minister felicitated the member states on the occasion and said Asean represented a region of great diversity, rich culture and profound historical significance.
“It has been a beacon of regional cooperation, fostering peace, stability and economic progress for more than five decades,” he said. “Bangladesh highly values the Asean community and the constructive role it plays in the global arena.”
“Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to work hand in hand with Asean member states to achieve our shared goals,” he said.
The foreign minister also emphasized the “immense potential” for cooperation between Bangladesh and Asean, including strengthening ties in trade, investment, technology and human capital development.
“The collective market of Asean holds significant promise for Bangladesh's economic growth, and we are eager to explore opportunities for increased collaboration in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, blue economy and renewable energy,” he said.
“Another area of mutual interest is the promotion of peace and stability in the region. We commend Asean's commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue. Bangladesh firmly believes that peaceful resolution of conflicts is the key to fostering greater understanding and cooperation between nations,” he said, reiterating Bangladesh’s willingness to become a sectoral dialogue partner (SDP) of Asean.
“With about 170 million people, a more than $465 billion economy and recognized as one of the most vibrant and resilient development role models for the world for over a decade, the presence of Bangladesh in Asean is expected to forge synergistic partnership towards mutual benefits,” he said.
“Together, we can create a brighter and more prosperous future for our people and the generations to come.”