RI, Bangladesh move to up economic and trade ties<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Bangladesh signed on Saturday agreements aimed at
\nboosting economic and trade ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The two agreed to establish a joint commission for bilateral
\nrelations, promote comprehensive trade and economic partnership,
\nand cooperate on tourism.<\/p>\n
Visiting Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and host
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri witnessed the signing ceremony
\nat Merdeka Palace, following talks between delegations from the
\ntwo countries.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed to continue to make an effort to increase the
\nvalue as well as volume of our trade and investments,\" Megawati
\nsaid in a media statement issued after meeting PM Zia.<\/p>\n
The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation in
\nagriculture.<\/p>\n
\"The prime minister's visit will further strengthen our
\nalready friendly ties through wider and mutually beneficial
\ncooperation,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
In 2001 and 2002, Bangladeshi exports to Indonesia stood at
\nUS$5.6 million, while imports were valued at $173.6 million.
\nThere is currently no Indonesian investment in Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
Zia's visit, her first to Indonesia, is a reciprocal one after
\nMegawati visited Dhaka in June last year.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Saturday
\nthat during the meeting Zia also asked Indonesia to facilitate
\nBangladesh's entry into the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN has decided to accept new members for ARF, with
\nPakistan the first country to join the security forum; we are
\nconsidering the requests of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and East Timor
\nto be part of ARF,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Hassan was referring to the security forum of the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with major countries such as
\nthe United States, China, Japan, South Korea and India.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, Hassan said, Indonesia also supported the
\nnomination of Bangladesh as secretary-general of the Organization
\nof the Islamic Conference (OIC).<\/p>\n
\"Bangladesh also supports our nomination to be a nonpermanent
\nmember of the UN Security Council for the 2007-2008 term,\" Hassan
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Later in the day Zia paid a courtesy call on Vice President
\nHamzah Haz and held a meeting with the Bangladeshi community
\nhere.<\/p>\n
Megawati hosted a state dinner for Zia at the State Palace on
\nSaturday evening. The prime minister was scheduled to depart for
\nBrunei Darussalam on Sunday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-bangladesh-move-to-up-economic-and-trade-ties-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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