Bangladesh, South Africa pledge deeper bilateral ties

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam led the Bangladesh delegation, while the South African side was headed by Ambassador DE Malcomson, Acting Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Middle East at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, according to a foreign ministry press release.

The consultations reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation of mutual interest, a joint communiqué issued after the meeting said.

The two sides highlighted the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and South Africa, built on solidarity and cooperation, as the countries marked 32 years of diplomatic relations.

They also expressed regret over the six-year hiatus in diplomatic consultations, mainly caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and agreed to intensify high-level exchanges and institutional engagements to deepen bilateral ties.

During the meeting, Bangladesh requested South Africa to establish a resident diplomatic mission in Dhaka. The South African side said the matter would be considered in the near future.

Both countries welcomed the steady growth in bilateral trade and economic relations, noting that stronger commercial engagement could boost employment and economic growth in both nations.

Bangladesh also invited a South African trade delegation to visit the country to explore investment and business opportunities.

The consultations emphasised cooperation in sports, particularly cricket, as well as people-to-people contacts, arts and culture. Bangladesh appreciated South Africa’s scholarship programme for young Bangladeshi cricketers and sought expanded scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The two countries agreed to regularly review cooperation in priority sectors, including agriculture, defence, transport and education.

On multilateral issues, Bangladesh and South Africa stressed the need for closer coordination in international forums to advance the interests of the Global South.

As members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), both sides reaffirmed the importance of the Indian Ocean and the Blue Economy in promoting sustainable development and regional prosperity.

The meeting also exchanged views on regional and global developments and agreed to expedite the implementation of decisions taken at the sixth consultations, including finalising pending agreements and memorandums of understanding.

The seventh Foreign Office Consultations will be held in Dhaka in 2027 on dates to be decided through diplomatic channels.