Bangladesh and South Korea pledge to take their longstanding friendship to new highs as they agree to explore formal strategic partnership besides cooperation in newer areas after high-level talks in Seoul.
The two countries held the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) Tuesday, with discussions ranging from trade and investment to security and climate change. Bangladesh's delegation was led by Dr Md Nazrul Islam, secretary for bilateral affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while South Korea was represented by its first vice-foreign minister Park Yoonjoo.
Officials have described the talks as "warm and cordial," with both sides reviewing progress since the last round in Dhaka in March 2022 and identifying fresh areas of cooperation. These include cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and the modernisation of shipyards and marine ports - areas in which Seoul is seen as having significant expertise and investment potential.
The meeting also highlighted South Korea's growing interest in relocating some electronics and semiconductor-manufacturing facilities to Bangladesh, a move Dhaka hopes could help boost its industrial base and export capacity. Korea reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh's infrastructure ambitions through concessional loans and grants from agencies that include EDCF, KOICA and EDPF.
For its part, Dhaka sought greater opportunities for skilled manpower migration under Korea's Employment Permit System and expanded technical collaboration to strengthen STEM and vocational education.
Humanitarian issues also featured prominently, with the Korean delegation commending Bangladesh for hosting more than a million Rohingya refugees and promising continued support for repatriation to Myanmar, as well as humanitarian assistance.
The two countries agreed on the importance of political trust and high-level exchanges, signalling interest in a potential visit by heads of state or government "at a mutually convenient time." They also reaffirmed a commitment to closer coordination on regional and global concerns, including security and sustainable development in South Asia.
Dr Islam thanked his hosts for what he described as "gracious hospitality" and voiced optimism that Dhaka-Seoul relations are poised to deepen. "Our discussions today reflect a shared vision for maximising resources and strategic advantages for the benefit of our peoples," he said.
"The consultations ended with a clear message: both sides see growing complementarity in their economic and strategic interests - and the political will to elevate the relationship," an official of the foreign ministry stated.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
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