UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh and the Philippines have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, blue economy, fisheries and aquaculture and defence.
Both sides reached the agreement at the first Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Manila on Wednesday, said a Foreign Ministry media release on Friday.
With the successful holding of the first FOC, the two countries hope, the existing bilateral relations would be taken to a new height. A MoU was also signed to formalise the regular FOC between the two countries.
Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque while the Philippines side was headed by Undersecretary of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Laura Q Del Rosario.
During the meeting, both sides had an intensive and open exchange of views on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
The Bangladesh side highlighted the comparative advantage of certain Bangladeshi products like pharmaceuticals, readymade garments, leather goods and potato, while the Philippines side requested for increased access of the Filipinos to the service sector of Bangladesh.
The Philippines side also showed keen interest in investing in the fisheries sector of Bangladesh, particularly in the context of the emerging potentials following the delimitation of maritime boundaries with India and Myanmar.
The two sides also discussed increasing cooperation in the fields of sports and culture as well.
The Philippines side appreciated the role of Bangladesh in peacekeeping and expressed interest to learn more from Bangladesh in this regard.
Bangladesh and the Philippines have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, blue economy, fisheries and aquaculture and defence.
Both sides reached the agreement at the first Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Manila on Wednesday, said a Foreign Ministry media release on Friday.
With the successful holding of the first FOC, the two countries hope, the existing bilateral relations would be taken to a new height. A MoU was also signed to formalise the regular FOC between the two countries.
Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque while the Philippines side was headed by Undersecretary of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Laura Q Del Rosario.
During the meeting, both sides had an intensive and open exchange of views on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
The Bangladesh side highlighted the comparative advantage of certain Bangladeshi products like pharmaceuticals, readymade garments, leather goods and potato, while the Philippines side requested for increased access of the Filipinos to the service sector of Bangladesh.
The Philippines side also showed keen interest in investing in the fisheries sector of Bangladesh, particularly in the context of the emerging potentials following the delimitation of maritime boundaries with India and Myanmar.
The two sides also discussed increasing cooperation in the fields of sports and culture as well.
The Philippines side appreciated the role of Bangladesh in peacekeeping and expressed interest to learn more from Bangladesh in this regard.
