Tarique Exchanges Greetings With World Leaders at COP31

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman exchanged greetings and pleasantries with heads of state and government and senior representatives of international organisations at the Leaders' Lounge ahead of the opening ceremony of the World Leaders' Summit at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, on Wednesday.

The prime minister arrived at the conference venue at 10:10am local time, where he was welcomed by the organisers, said his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, accompanied him. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and State Minister-1 for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir were also present.

Before the opening ceremony, world leaders gathered at the Leaders' Lounge, where they exchanged greetings and held brief informal conversations on issues of mutual interest.

Tarique also took part in the informal interactions in a cordial atmosphere.

Among those who met and exchanged greetings with the prime minister were Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The prime minister also exchanged greetings with members of the Indonesian delegation.

Heads of state and government, representatives of international organisations and climate experts from various countries are attending COP31, which is focusing on global cooperation to address climate change.

Tarique is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings and courtesy calls with leaders of several countries on the sidelines of the conference.

The prime minister arrived in Antalya on Tuesday on a three-day visit to Türkiye and is leading a high-level Bangladesh delegation to the conference.