Bilateral issues high on agenda
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury left Dhaka Monday for Australia to hold formal discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on bilateral issues, reports UNB.
During his three-day visit he will also meet Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker and take part in a roundtable with the members of the Australia-Bangladesh Parliamentary Group at the Parliament House.
The adviser is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Australian National University on the topic "Evolving Challenges for Bang-ladesh in South Asia".
He will also receive a briefing from Aus Aid, the development cooperation agency on programmes on Bangladesh.
Prior to his departure Chow-dhury said Australia is a key partner in many different spheres and both countries place considerable importance to their relations with each other.
"We cooperate a good deal on matters of technical assistance and food aid," he said, adding, "the quantum of cooperation is likely to increase in the future. The visit will hopefully strengthen our links."
The adviser said, "Also, Australia is an English speaking country whose universities should be a good destination for our students. I believe we should have more academic exchanges."
He said Australia could be an important source of support for Information and Communica-tion Technology (ICT) training, a key to making our economy truly knowledge-based.
During his three-day visit he will also meet Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker and take part in a roundtable with the members of the Australia-Bangladesh Parliamentary Group at the Parliament House.
The adviser is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Australian National University on the topic "Evolving Challenges for Bang-ladesh in South Asia".
He will also receive a briefing from Aus Aid, the development cooperation agency on programmes on Bangladesh.
Prior to his departure Chow-dhury said Australia is a key partner in many different spheres and both countries place considerable importance to their relations with each other.
"We cooperate a good deal on matters of technical assistance and food aid," he said, adding, "the quantum of cooperation is likely to increase in the future. The visit will hopefully strengthen our links."
The adviser said, "Also, Australia is an English speaking country whose universities should be a good destination for our students. I believe we should have more academic exchanges."
He said Australia could be an important source of support for Information and Communica-tion Technology (ICT) training, a key to making our economy truly knowledge-based.