Hasina, Lee vow to strengthen economic, trade ties
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
SEOUL, May 18 (UNB): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Tuesday vowed to strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation for mutual benefit.
The determination was expressed in the opening remarks by the two leaders who held one-hour summit talks at the President Office in the morning discussing the entire range of bilateral issues.
President Lee praised Sheikh Hasina's leadership enabling the country to achieve 6.5 per cent economic growth last year despite global economic turmoil.
"This is a remarkable achievement," he said, adding that it has been possible due to outstanding leadership of the Prime Minister.
The President said 150 Korean companies are operating in Bangladesh creating employment for 100,000 Bangladeshi workers.
He said the Korean economy was in bad shape in the '60s but with the passage of time its economy had overcome the difficulties and now stands on strong footing.
Lee said Sheikh Hasina's visit has created a good opportunity to make exchanges on development issues.
Appreciating the Prime Minister's keynote speech delivered on Monday at the 66th ministerial session of ESCAP in Seoul, the President said he would convey the contents of her speech focusing on quick disbursement of climate fund at the G-20 meeting to be held in November to see what they can do.
The Prime Minister said the way Korea has become a developed country by recovering from economic adversity could be a role model for a country like Bangladesh.
Hasina hoped that her visit would open up a new vista in bilateral cooperation between Dhaka and Seoul. She thanked the Korean leader for recognizing Bangladesh on May 12, 1972.
The summit talks were followed by the signing of an agreement on the Economic Development Cooperation Fund Loan and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Energy Cooperation.
On Monday, the two countries signed another agreement on Cultural Exchange Programmes and an MoU on Environment Protection.
The determination was expressed in the opening remarks by the two leaders who held one-hour summit talks at the President Office in the morning discussing the entire range of bilateral issues.
President Lee praised Sheikh Hasina's leadership enabling the country to achieve 6.5 per cent economic growth last year despite global economic turmoil.
"This is a remarkable achievement," he said, adding that it has been possible due to outstanding leadership of the Prime Minister.
The President said 150 Korean companies are operating in Bangladesh creating employment for 100,000 Bangladeshi workers.
He said the Korean economy was in bad shape in the '60s but with the passage of time its economy had overcome the difficulties and now stands on strong footing.
Lee said Sheikh Hasina's visit has created a good opportunity to make exchanges on development issues.
Appreciating the Prime Minister's keynote speech delivered on Monday at the 66th ministerial session of ESCAP in Seoul, the President said he would convey the contents of her speech focusing on quick disbursement of climate fund at the G-20 meeting to be held in November to see what they can do.
The Prime Minister said the way Korea has become a developed country by recovering from economic adversity could be a role model for a country like Bangladesh.
Hasina hoped that her visit would open up a new vista in bilateral cooperation between Dhaka and Seoul. She thanked the Korean leader for recognizing Bangladesh on May 12, 1972.
The summit talks were followed by the signing of an agreement on the Economic Development Cooperation Fund Loan and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Energy Cooperation.
On Monday, the two countries signed another agreement on Cultural Exchange Programmes and an MoU on Environment Protection.