Bangladesh PM’s visit opens up new doors to better ties: Swedish PM

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expressed the hope that the first-ever visit by a Bangladesh prime minister will open up new doorways to good relations between the two countries.

His comment came at a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who is now in Sweden on a three-day visit to the Scandinavian country.

Earlier on Thursday, Hasina visited the parliament building and called on the king of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim later briefed the media entourage visiting with the prime minister.

“It’s opened the next phase of our relations,” Stefan told Hasina during the bilateral meeting, according to Haque.

“It’s opening the doorway of a long-term and deeper relationship,” he quoted Stefan as saying.

The foreign secretary told journalists that the Swedish premier identified a number of areas of co-operations with energy on top of the list.

“Energy has the top priority. They have discussed the issue at length on how Sweden can help Bangladesh attain energy efficiency,” Haque added.

“Technology and trade follow. Lofven believes that there are plenty of rooms for expansion of trade,” he said adding, “Sweden offers support to the technology sector.”

Famous Swedish retail brand H&M imports $5 billion worth of readymade garments from Bangladesh annually. Bangladesh imports motor vehicles and other products from the Nordic country.

Sweden is one of those countries that recognised Bangladesh within two months of independence in 1971. The two countries celebrated the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations in last February.

The foreign secretary said, “During the meeting, the Bangladesh prime minister expressed her gratitude to Sweden for the early recognition following the War of Independence.”

Hasina briefed her counterpart about the economic growth, success in RMG sector and the government endeavours to draw foreign investment through different economic zones.”

The two sides released a joint communiqué on the outcome of the meeting between the two heads of government.

According to the foreign secretary, the joint statement outlines the new dynamic of the relations between the two countries.

Bangladesh and Sweden have also pledged to fight terrorism together in the statement.

Parliament Speaker Tobias Billstrom was with Hasina during the visit to the house of parliament.

The prime minister discussed Bangladesh's achievement in alleviating poverty, women empowerment and reducing rate of infant deaths with Swedish King Gustaf.

King Gustaf expressed his interest in Bangladesh's development and assured her of continued cooperation.

The prime minister later held the bilateral and one-on-one meeting with her Swedish counterpart before joining a luncheon hosted by Lofven.

She also met Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lovin and Justice and Migration Minister Morgan Johansson.

She attended a reception by the expatriate Bangladeshis in the evening.

The prime minister will meet CEOs of some Swedish firms and join a meeting of Bangladesh-Sweden Business and Investment Forum on Friday.

She is scheduled to return via London on Saturday.