The French Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday celebrated Bastille Day with a reception highlighting the growing partnership between France and Bangladesh, as French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet reaffirmed Paris' commitment to expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
Speaking at the event, the ambassador said France is ready to build a long-term partnership with Bangladesh, describing the country as a rapidly growing economy with the potential to become "a pillar of stability" in the Indo-Pacific region.
"We want to develop our ties in all sectors, and we are ready to build a long-term partnership with Bangladesh," he said, adding that France envisions the Indo-Pacific as "a zone of free passage, peace, and cooperation."
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood attended the reception as the chief guest.
The ambassador said France expects its partnership with Bangladesh to be based on genuine reciprocity and a level playing field for French companies seeking to expand their presence in the country.
"We expect Bangladesh to also demonstrate its interest in partnering in a concrete way," he said.
Highlighting bilateral cooperation, Séré-Charlet said more than 80% of the French Development Agency's (AFD) annual projects in Bangladesh focus on climate mitigation, resilience, and biodiversity conservation, reflecting President Emmanuel Macron's priority of strengthening climate cooperation with Bangladesh.
He also praised Bangladesh for being among the first countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, describing it as an important contribution to global ocean protection.
The ambassador said France is also advancing innovation and artificial intelligence, noting that Paris has become one of Europe's leading AI hubs.
On international affairs, he reiterated France's commitment to multilateralism, citing French initiatives related to the Strait of Hormuz crisis, recognition of the State of Palestine, and support for Ukraine's sovereignty.
Recalling the historic ties between the two countries, Séré-Charlet said France was among the first nations to recognize Bangladesh after its independence and has remained a reliable partner ever since.
He also praised Bangladesh's export growth, saying European trade preferences have helped the country's readymade garment industry achieve remarkable success over the past 25 years.
The ambassador reaffirmed France's support for freedom of expression and press freedom, paying tribute to Prothom Alo and The Daily Star for continuing their work after attacks on their offices.
He also highlighted the role of the Alliance Française centers in Dhaka and Chittagong in promoting cultural exchanges and French language education.
According to the ambassador, AFD has provided nearly €2 billion in financing to Bangladesh since 2012, supporting projects on climate action, poverty reduction, women's empowerment, water, and infrastructure, while France is also seeking to expand the footprint of its companies in Bangladesh across sectors including fashion, aerospace, civil aviation, and infrastructure.