New Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought active collaboration and partnership from all to achieve core foreign policy goals with the solid base in place - trust and sovereignty - focusing on economic diplomacy and regional relations.
He told this to the reporters at his ministry on Tuesday afternoon, reports UNB.
Momen said: “We need active collaboration and partnership. We need support from all. We need active initiatives. We need cooperation from friendly countries too.”
The minister further said that they want to work as a team as there are many challenges ahead mentioning that partnership is very important.
The newly appointed foreign minister had served as the Ambassador and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN in New York with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Peru.
Dr Momen highlighted the development initiatives of the government and said that they would seek cooperation and partnership from all friendly countries.
He said that they believe in the foreign policy goal- "friendship to all and malice to none" as defined by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He remarked that Bangladesh has advanced much following Bangabandhu's foreign policy and stated the government will continue to follow this being friends with all countries.
“To have such a foreign policy in place, Bangladesh did not lose any election in the United Nations,” he said.
On Bangladesh's growing regional cooperation, Dr Momen said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has always talked about enhancing regional relations and that his party will continue to walk on the same path.
The former Ambassador and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UNsaid that Bangladesh wants to give a boost to its "economic diplomacy" as it is an important global economy.
He said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairswill play a supportive role in getting more foreign investment in the country.”
“Due to massive development over the last 10 years, expectations from peoplehave increased and all need to work together to fulfill those expectations.”
He mentioned that the government is working to become a higher middle-income country by 2021, achieve global goals - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and build Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla - a developed, prosperous, stable and non-communal country with equal opportunity for all citizens.
"No one will be left out," he said.
Terming Bangladesh a victorious nation, he said these challenging goals can be achieved if everyone works together from their respective positions with cooperation from all.
The foreign minister sought cooperation especially from journalists, academicians, philanthropists and businesspeople, in government's journey on the highway of development.
He welcomed constructive feedback by saying: "My door will alwaysremain open for any recommendations."
When asked about the status of his US citizenship, the minister said that he has surrendered it and explained the groundson which he had to take the US citizenship.
He recalled the support of the US government during his difficult time abroad and mentioned what the US judge told him: "You could be stateless but you can't be homeless and jobless."
Earlier, senior officials at the MoFA welcomed the newly appointed foreign minister at the ministry.
Among others, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were also present.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina picked Dr Momen, a globally well-connected man, as the new foreign minister in her cabinet replacing former Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali amid Bangladesh's growing importance in global arena.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam is continuing with the same portfolio for the second consecutive term.
Dr Momen, younger brother of former Finance Minister AMA Muhith, was elected MP from the Sylhet 1 constituency in the December-30 national election.