Prime Minister Tarique Rahman exchanged greetings and pleasantries with heads of state and government and senior representatives of international organisations at the Leaders’ Lounge ahead of the opening ceremony of the World Leaders’ Summit of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Türkiye’s Antalya on Wednesday.
The prime minister reached the venue of the United Nations Climate Change Conference at 10:10am local time, where he was welcomed by the organisers, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, accompanied him. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir were also present.
Before the opening ceremony, world leaders gathered at the Leaders’ Lounge, where they exchanged greetings and held brief informal conversations on issues of mutual interest.
Tarique also joined the informal interactions in a cordial atmosphere.
Among those who met and exchanged greetings with the prime minister were former Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The prime minister also exchanged greetings with members of the Indonesian delegation.
Heads of state and government, representatives of international organisations and climate experts from different countries are attending COP31, which is focusing on global cooperation to address the challenges of climate change.
Tarique is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings and courtesy calls with the leaders of several countries on the sidelines of the conference.
The prime minister arrived in Antalya on Tuesday on a three-day visit to Türkiye.
Tarique is leading a high-level Bangladesh delegation to the conference.