Call for stronger economic ties, regional stability at ARF meet

Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has stressed the need for intensifying economic relations and connectivity, both physical and people-to-people to build confidence among the nations which would pave the way to promote global peace and stability, reports UNB.
While referring to the unprecedented time of war and conflict across the globe, Dr Momen reiterated Bangladesh's strong position for regional economic peace and stability particularly in the Asia-Pacific region for its sustained economic development, and its unwavering support to the people of Palestine and called for immediate end of war in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere.
He also sought for a renewed support from the ARF member states to facilitate repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals.
The 31st Session of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR recently. The event was attended by Foreign Ministers and representatives from twenty-seven ARF member states. Dr Momen led the delegation of Bangladesh.
The delegation included, among others, Bangladesh Ambassador to Lao PDR Md Lutfor Rahman and Director-General Rais Hasan Sarower.
The meeting exchanged views on wide range of regional and international issues to address the existing and growing challenges to maintain international peace and security. The leaders also put forward several directives to enhance security dialogues under the auspices of ARF for coming years.
Dr. Momen had a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Lao, when he invited him to visit Bangladesh also as current Chair of ASEAN to see the plight of 1.2 million displaced people of Myanmar in Bangladesh.
At the side line of the meeting, he had fruitful meetings with a host of important Heads of Delegations including the Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister of Lao, Foreign Ministers of USA, China, Russia, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, EU, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Canada, Japan, and Australia.
Mentionworthy, in 1993, during the 26th Session of ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was formed with an objective to foster dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues to promote confidence building in Asia Pacific region.
Bangladesh became a member of ARF in 2006. At present Bangladesh is the co-chair of two priority areas of ARF: Disaster Relief and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime.