Bangladesh has invited South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to visit Dhaka at a mutually convenient time, as the two countries discussed expanding political, economic and defence cooperation.
The invitation was extended by Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir during separate meetings with South Korea’s First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoon-joo and Vice Minister of National Defense Lee Doo-hee in Seoul on Friday.
During his meeting with Park Yoon-joo, Kabir handed over the invitation letter to President Lee Jae Myung on behalf of the prime minister.
The two sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral political and economic cooperation. Kabir expressed Bangladesh’s interest in further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries and praised South Korea’s economic and technological development.
He also welcomed progress toward concluding the Bangladesh-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and expressed hope for its early completion.
Kabir called for greater bilateral trade and investment, expanded market access for Bangladeshi products and increased South Korean investment in technology-intensive sectors, including semiconductors, electronics, shipbuilding, light engineering, high-end ready-made garments and information technology.
He also highlighted cooperation opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, logistics, digital transformation, skills development and services.
The state minister urged South Korea to expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi skilled and semi-skilled workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS).
He further sought increased Korean cooperation in climate resilience, infrastructure development, human-resource development, technical and vocational education and digital technology. Kabir also appreciated South Korea’s humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya and sought continued support for their early and sustainable repatriation.
At his meeting with South Korea’s Vice Minister of National Defense Lee Doo-hee, Kabir discussed ways to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.
The discussions focused on training, capacity building, UN peacekeeping operations and cooperation in the defence industry.
Kabir appreciated South Korean support for training and capacity building for Bangladesh’s armed forces, police and civilian defence personnel and requested expanded opportunities for specialised training. He also invited South Korean military personnel to participate in specialised courses offered by Bangladesh’s armed forces.
Kabir said Bangladesh was in the process of establishing a defence industrial zone and invited South Korea to explore opportunities for investment, technology transfer and industrial cooperation.
The Korean side expressed interest in further strengthening defence ties with Bangladesh and said it was ready to explore cooperation in mutually agreed areas, including training, capacity building and peacekeeping operations.
Both meetings reaffirmed the two countries’ commitment to strengthening their longstanding partnership and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
