Foreign ministers of France, Germany begin whirlwind Bangladesh tour

Foreign ministers of Europe's two most powerful countries, Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier and France’s Laurent Fabius, have touched down together in Dhaka on a whirlwind “historic” visit to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali received them at the Shahjalal International Airport at around 8am on Monday, one of his aides told bdnews24.com.

From the airport, they were driven straight to Savar to see the effects of climate change by a boat trip on the river Bongshi.

Earlier, they were scheduled to visit the southern district of Patuakhali, which had been cancelled.

The visit is taking place before the December climate conference in Paris, which is meant to deliver a draft that could lead to a new world climate treaty to replace the expired Kyoto Protocol.

They would also attend the historic topping-off ceremony of the first-ever Franco-German joint embassy at Baridhara in the afternoon.

The ceremony marks the point when the highest or last steel beam is put into place in the building - the symbolic completion of the structural phase.

Foreign Minister Ali earlier termed this visit “historic” since “such a (joint) visit has never taken place before” in Bangladesh.

France and Germany, once sworn enemies, joined hands in 1963 to sign the Elysee Treaty that is seen as a symbol of reconciliation, cooperation, and partnership.

That paved the way for the European Union.

The two nations decided to set up a collocated embassy in Dhaka in 2004 on the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the pact.

The foundation stone was laid in 2013 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the treaty.

German Ambassador in Dhaka Thomas Prinz told bdnews24.com on Sunday : “ The interwoven elements of differently coloured facade elements, the external structure of the building will hint at a DNA and symbolise the close ties between the two countries”.

Bangladesh maintains close relations with both the countries. They supported Bengalis during the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan.

Germany is the biggest single-country trading destination for Bangladesh in the EU where all products enjoy duty-free market access.

The two-way trade with Germany is about $5 billion, mostly Bangladesh’s exports. With France, the trade is about $2 billion.

Both France and Germany cooperate with Bangladesh on various international issues ranging from sustainable development and climate change preparedness to culture and human rights.

The two foreign ministers would go to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Ganabhaban later in the day.

They are scheduled to fly off to Paris at about 9.45pm in a regular Etihad Airways flight.