Participation in Shangri-La dialogue raised country's image: Iftekhar
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the conference, titled Shangri-La Dialogue, held in Singapore was "fruitful" and Bangladesh's participation enhanced its regional and international image, reports UNB.
He made the remarks while talking to the media after returning home from the two-day conference Sunday, said a Foreign Ministry press release.
The foreign adviser said that in the wake of natural disasters in Myanmar and China, naturally the dialogue focused on them.
"The ministers generally agreed that, if required, foreign aid should be facilitated in disaster-hit countries, with agreement from and under supervision of host nations," he said.
Dr Iftekhar said there was also a lot of interest on climate change and how it relates to security.
"I was one of the keynote speakers at a session and made five proposals," Dr Iftekhar said adding, "These were all well received".
The proposals included emphasis on climate change adaptation, depoliticising the debate and rewarding those who polluted least, making transfer of appropriate eco-friendly technology to least developed countries (LDCs) easier, the need for the UN to provide strong leadership, and the setting up of an International Food Fund.
The adviser said Singapore is a modern Asian country, which can be a model for Bangladesh.
"Naturally, I took advantage of the visit to hold separate bilateral talks with their (Singaporean) Foreign Minister George Yeo and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean. We discussed how Singapore can assist us with dredging our rivers and ports, and about the scope of greater participation of Bangladeshi skilled workers in Singapore."
He mentioned that he had also participated at working lunches with US Defence Secretary Gates, Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollogama and had separate bilateral talks with British Defence Minister Des Browne.
He said: "I explained to them that Bangladesh is now most peaceful country in the South Asian region. They also appreciated how well we handled our relief and rehabilitation operations after the cyclone Sidr. This was important because how a country handled humanitarian crisis became a factor in judging their capacities."
Dr Iftekhar expressed his satisfaction that Bangladesh was attending such international conference for the first time now. "It is giving Bangladesh a more positive international profile and the world is beginning to pay us attention."
The Singapore defence ministry and the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies organised the 'Shangri-La Dialogue', an annual event for the past seven years. Bangladesh participated in this ministerial dialogue for the first time this year.
Some 27 foreign and defence ministers from the Asia-Pacific region, besides the US, the UK and France, and over 250 academics, scientists and experts took part in the dialogue.
He made the remarks while talking to the media after returning home from the two-day conference Sunday, said a Foreign Ministry press release.
The foreign adviser said that in the wake of natural disasters in Myanmar and China, naturally the dialogue focused on them.
"The ministers generally agreed that, if required, foreign aid should be facilitated in disaster-hit countries, with agreement from and under supervision of host nations," he said.
Dr Iftekhar said there was also a lot of interest on climate change and how it relates to security.
"I was one of the keynote speakers at a session and made five proposals," Dr Iftekhar said adding, "These were all well received".
The proposals included emphasis on climate change adaptation, depoliticising the debate and rewarding those who polluted least, making transfer of appropriate eco-friendly technology to least developed countries (LDCs) easier, the need for the UN to provide strong leadership, and the setting up of an International Food Fund.
The adviser said Singapore is a modern Asian country, which can be a model for Bangladesh.
"Naturally, I took advantage of the visit to hold separate bilateral talks with their (Singaporean) Foreign Minister George Yeo and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean. We discussed how Singapore can assist us with dredging our rivers and ports, and about the scope of greater participation of Bangladeshi skilled workers in Singapore."
He mentioned that he had also participated at working lunches with US Defence Secretary Gates, Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollogama and had separate bilateral talks with British Defence Minister Des Browne.
He said: "I explained to them that Bangladesh is now most peaceful country in the South Asian region. They also appreciated how well we handled our relief and rehabilitation operations after the cyclone Sidr. This was important because how a country handled humanitarian crisis became a factor in judging their capacities."
Dr Iftekhar expressed his satisfaction that Bangladesh was attending such international conference for the first time now. "It is giving Bangladesh a more positive international profile and the world is beginning to pay us attention."
The Singapore defence ministry and the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies organised the 'Shangri-La Dialogue', an annual event for the past seven years. Bangladesh participated in this ministerial dialogue for the first time this year.
Some 27 foreign and defence ministers from the Asia-Pacific region, besides the US, the UK and France, and over 250 academics, scientists and experts took part in the dialogue.