Jang Sung Min, Presidential Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, has said that Dhaka and Seoul can have regular dialogue and high-level exchanges to share each other’s thinking to have a situation which is “win-win” for all.
“This is the concept and philosophy of the President and that is why the President sent me (here),” he said while replying to a question at a press briefing on Wednesday.
He said his visit would be the beginning of the new 50 years of the relations as the two countries are now celebrating the 50 years of its diplomatic bonhomie.
“My visit will be reciprocated by a high-level visit from Bangladesh to Korea,” he hoped.
A very close advisor to President Yeol and the Senior Secretary for Future Strategy in the President’s Office, Jang Sung Min was leading an eight-member delegation to visit Bangladesh on 14-16 February.
On his arrival, he paid respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondhi 32.
On Wednesday, he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
The foreign ministry said, during the meeting with Dr. Momen, the Korean Envoy informed that the Republic of Korea (ROK) cherished her 50 years diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and would like to enhance the relations to a higher level in the next 50 years ahead.
He referred to their Indo-Pacific Strategy and the plan to take the ROK in a pivotal position in the international arena.
At the meeting, Dr. Momen acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the ROK in the development of the export-oriented garment industry in Bangladesh, which vows for enhancing the existing engagements between the two countries particularly in terms of trade, commerce, investment, scientific and technical assistance, human resource development, and manpower sector, among others.
The discussion also included cooperation in renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, ship building, deep sea fishing, and the Rohingya issue.
The ROK side acknowledged the impressive development achievements of the Government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Presidential Envoy hoped that both Bangladesh and ROK will lead to further comprehensive cooperation in the days ahead.
The Korean Envoy handed over to the foreign minister a “commemorative logo” made on the occasion of the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and ROK, which will be completed in December this year.
Korea is a strong development partner of Bangladesh. It opened its embassy in Dhaka in early 1975, more than a year after the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1973.
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency opened its office in Dhaka in 1978 as there was a ‘strong demand’ for the promotion of trade and investment.
In the 1970s, Korean entrepreneurs came to Bangladesh to set up garment factories, many of whom are still active in Bangladesh.
A World Bank development report said the boom of Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry that drives its economy is because of initial training from Korean Daewoo Corporation in 1979 when Bangladesh had no modern industry.
Daewoo teamed up with Bangladesh’s Desh Ltd and trained up its 130 newly recruited and educated employees who later left Desh to start their own clothing businesses for the industry to flourish.
Korea is now a technologically advanced country. Asked how they can cooperate in the era of 4th industrial revolution, the special envoy said, as a leader of the 4th IR, Korea has modern technologies and know-how that they can share with Bangladesh.
Besides, he said both countries can cooperate in the field of climate change, and areas of bio-technology and healthcare.
“These are some of the areas we can discuss with Bangladesh,” he said.
“This visit is expected to serve as an opportunity for Korea and Bangladesh to strengthen their friendship and cooperation and to explore new opportunities for mutual benefit on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries,” the Korean embassy in Dhaka, earlier, said.
The foreign ministry said the Special Envoy called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and reiterated Korea’s expectation to enhance the bilateral relations with Bangladesh in the next 50 years on the basis of common values of democracy, rule of law, human rights, freedom, peace and prosperity.
