State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam recounted the journey of Bangladesh from a development assistance-recipient country to the second-largest economy in South Asia and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He made the remark when the newly appointed Ambassador of France to Bangladesh, Marie Masdupuy paid a maiden courtesy call on the State Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday.

The French Ambassador shared her impression that the aspiration for Bangladesh’s becoming a developed country by 2041 is very much evident.

As Bangladesh is widely considered a success story for the EU’s Everything-but-Arms (EBA) scheme, the State Minister hoped that France will continue to support Bangladesh's bid for a GSP+ facility beyond 2029 under the EU's new GSP Regulation.

Both sides also exchanged views on the bilateral cooperation issues of connectivity, climate change, clean and green energy technology, aviation, etc., and the global food, energy, and financial challenges in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Shahriar assured Marie Masdupuy of full support and cooperation during her tenure in Bangladesh.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul