Staff Reporter :
Commonwealth Foreign Ministers on Thursday discussed a wide range of political issues, including migration, violent extremism and radicalisation, ending sexual violence in conflict, early and forced marriage and focused on how to resolve these issues.
The ministers came up with the discussion at the pre-Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM- 2015) held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Malta’s capital city Valletta.
They also finalised the communique of the CHOGM 2015 for adoption by the Commonwealth heads of government.
The foreign ministers are finalising the draft Climate Statement of Commonwealth leaders as a strong political message to the COP21 to be held in Paris.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, who is leading a Bangladesh delegation, on the day also took part in discussion.
He highlighted how Bangladesh was playing a leading role in enhancing regional connectivity in South Asia, related progress in thesub-regional connectivity initiatives and highlighted Bangladesh’s vision for expanding multimodal connectivity beyond South Asia by linking South East Asia, China and more for shared development and prosperity, according to a message received here on Friday.
At a plenary session of Commonwealth Business Forum on ‘Connecting Asia: Accelerating Regional Integration and Development’, Foreign Minister Ali delivered a keynote speech on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on ‘Regional Connectivity in South Asia’.
The session was moderated by the British State Minister of Commonwealth Hugo Swire and the panelists were from India, Nepal and the UK.
A Bangladesh specific roundtable was also held at the sidelines of the Commonwealth Business Forum with a considerable participation of business people from across Commonwealth countries.
In his speech, Foreign Minister Ali informed the business leaders of the opportunities of investing in Bangladesh, especially in big infrastructure projects to facilitate faster, higher and sustainable growth and development.
The event was conducted by the CEO of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) Oliver Everett.
