PM seeks ASEM partners' investment in Bangladesh's climate projects

PM seeks ASEM partners' investment in Bangladesh's climate projects

Special Desk :    |    ১২:৩৮ পিএম, ২০২১-১১-২৭

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought

investment from the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) partners in Bangladesh's long-
term climate projects such as Delta Plan.

"I invite all interested ASEM partners to invest in projects under our
long-term Bangladesh Delta Plan and Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan," she said.

The prime minister said this in a video message aired in the two-day 13th virtual
ASEM Summit streaming from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, starting from November 25.

She also called upon Asia and Europe to work in unison to mobilize
finances and technology to effectively fight climate change.

Marking ASEM's 25th anniversary, the summit brought together the leaders of
the European and Asian member countries, the EU and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The overall theme of ASEM13 is "Strengthening multilateralism for shared
growth".

Cambodia currently holds the rotating ASEM presidency.

Sheikh Hasina said Asia and Europe must join hands for mobilizing finances
and technology to combat climate change, adding, "We need multilateral
cooperation now more than ever for our shared and sustainable development."

She said the advanced and industrialized economies need to raise their
climate ambitions beyond COP26, urging them not to shift responsibilities
that may otherwise hamper "our own economic growth take-off."

The prime minister said that Bangladesh aspires to become a regional
connectivity hub, with potential benefits for its neighbours.

Bangladesh also offers to be one of the bridges in the EU-Asia Connectivity
Strategy, she said.

"We welcome Europe's engagements in sub-regional connectivity projects in
railways and roads," she continued.

Mentioning that our shared growth pursuits need to be supported by sound
international security cooperation, the premier said regional platforms like
ASEAN Regional Forum should help foster real-time cooperation in counter-
trafficking, maritime and cyber security, and fighting terrorism.

She went on saying, "A critical test of our multilateral cooperation will
be to find a lasting and peaceful solution for Myanmar's forcibly displaced
people - the Rohingyas".

Mentioning that Bangladesh offered temporary shelter to the Rohingyas and
stabilized the situation, the prime minister said, "We continue to amplify
the demand for their safe and dignified return to Myanmar."

The security situation in the Cox's Bazar camps is getting complicated and
the growing violence and crimes can soon spread beyond our borders, she said.

The prime minister said, "A provisional response to the crisis will serve
little purpose. I urge the international community to give proper attention
to the concerns we are raising."

Noting that Bangladesh considers itself to be modeled after the best of
Asian norms and European values, she said, "Since our early days, our
commitment to multilateralism has remained constant".

The premier said they are engaged in strategic dialogues with a number of
European partners and are looking forward to becoming a Sectoral Dialogue
Partner for ASEAN.

She also mentioned that, "their present lead in Indian Ocean Rim
Association (IORA), D-8, BIMSTEC and other forums will be used for advancing
our shared objectives".

She added: "We wish to see ASEM emerge as a force for good in the
international system."

This year we are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our independence and
the birth centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, she said.

Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a heavy pressure on the health
systems and economies across the world, the premier said, "It has compelled
us to divert our development resources for emergency treatments and
vaccines."

Sheikh Hasina said her government adopted a strategy to save both lives
and livelihoods.

She also said her government announced 28 stimulus packages worth 5.4
billion US dollars to offset the impacts of the pandemic.

"Our priority now is to preserve our hard-earned development gains in
reducing poverty and hunger, saving mothers and children, promoting literacy
and education, and ensuring safe and healthy living," she said.

The prime minister said that their aim is to vaccinate 80 percent of
Bangladesh's target population by March 2022.

"We hope to sustain the momentum of our LDC graduation. We shall remain
focused on attaining the SDGs by 2030. Our vision is to build an inclusive
and prosperous nation by 2041. To achieve these goals, our partnership with
Asia and Europe remains crucial," she opined.

The premier thanked friends in Asia, Europe and the US for their donations
of vaccines.

"Bangladesh has the capacity to produce quality vaccines. We seek
technical know-how and licenses for the purpose," she added.

With its 53 members (30 European and 21 Asian countries plus the EU and
the ASEAN Secretariat), ASEM summit is the biggest international leaders'
gathering after the UN General Assembly.

The European group within ASEM comprises the 27 EU member states as well as
Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen chaired the summit.

President of the European Council, Charles Michel and President of the
European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, represented the EU.

The Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Jansa, represented the rotating EU
Council presidency.