BD, Norway to develop partnership in challenging global climate change
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Bangladesh and Norway Tuesday agreed to develop a strategic partnership in combating global climate change, curbing corruption and improving the quality of governance besides making joint effort for mobilising funds for offsetting adversities of the global financial flue, reports UNB.
Helsinki believes that more aid from the developed world should be pumped into developing nations to enable them to tackle the fallout of the current financial crisis.
The agreement was reached during an official talk between Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain and State Secretary for International Development of Norway Hakon A Gulbrandsen at state guesthouse Padma in the afternoon.
They had political discussions over a broad range of issues, particularly focusing on the future direction of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Norway.
Both the sides recognised each other as important partners in international relations and reaffirmed the commitment to work together on potential sectors of cooperation and further deepen the ties.
The issues that figured high in discussion include the impact of global climate change, disaster management, curbing corruption, good governance and empowerment of women, private-sector development and cooperation, technology transfer, and cultural cooperation.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Hakon Gulbrandsen said their discussions focused on how best Norway could play its part in facing those challenges in Bangladesh. He praised Bangladesh's expertise in adaptation to and mitigation of the climate change as well as the country's performance in the economic field.
On the adverse impacts of the changing climate, he hoped that developed and developing countries would be able to reach an agreement at climate conference to be held in Copenhagen end of this year to face the fallout jointly. "Cooperation from the developed world is more needed to face the challenges," he said.
Gulbrandsen said Foreign Minister Dipu Moni will go to Helsinki to attend an international conference on melting ice next week.
In reply to a question he said the Norwegian government has decided
not to cut aid program in developing nations in the wake of the global financial meltdown. Rather, Helsinki increased its contribution by one percent of its GNP.
He observed that "more aid should come from the developed nations for the developing world" to face the global economic recession.
Both Dhaka and Helsinki reassured each other that they would work for a meaningful and dynamic partnership in the changed scenario and hoped that the cooperation would be broadened as per the demand of the time.
Helsinki believes that more aid from the developed world should be pumped into developing nations to enable them to tackle the fallout of the current financial crisis.
The agreement was reached during an official talk between Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain and State Secretary for International Development of Norway Hakon A Gulbrandsen at state guesthouse Padma in the afternoon.
They had political discussions over a broad range of issues, particularly focusing on the future direction of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Norway.
Both the sides recognised each other as important partners in international relations and reaffirmed the commitment to work together on potential sectors of cooperation and further deepen the ties.
The issues that figured high in discussion include the impact of global climate change, disaster management, curbing corruption, good governance and empowerment of women, private-sector development and cooperation, technology transfer, and cultural cooperation.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Hakon Gulbrandsen said their discussions focused on how best Norway could play its part in facing those challenges in Bangladesh. He praised Bangladesh's expertise in adaptation to and mitigation of the climate change as well as the country's performance in the economic field.
On the adverse impacts of the changing climate, he hoped that developed and developing countries would be able to reach an agreement at climate conference to be held in Copenhagen end of this year to face the fallout jointly. "Cooperation from the developed world is more needed to face the challenges," he said.
Gulbrandsen said Foreign Minister Dipu Moni will go to Helsinki to attend an international conference on melting ice next week.
In reply to a question he said the Norwegian government has decided
not to cut aid program in developing nations in the wake of the global financial meltdown. Rather, Helsinki increased its contribution by one percent of its GNP.
He observed that "more aid should come from the developed nations for the developing world" to face the global economic recession.
Both Dhaka and Helsinki reassured each other that they would work for a meaningful and dynamic partnership in the changed scenario and hoped that the cooperation would be broadened as per the demand of the time.