Bangladesh and Italy have committed to further strengthening their bilateral relations during the Second Political Consultations held in Dhaka on Monday.

This round of consultations follows the inaugural session held on June 7, 2023, in Rome, marking a year of significant partnership development between the two nations. The meetings were initiated through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Political Consultations.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, while the Italian delegation was headed by Riccardo Guariglia, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. The Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, and representatives from various Bangladeshi ministries were also in attendance.

During the discussions, both parties acknowledged the positive impact of the meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Italian President Giorgia Meloni on July 25, 2023, in Rome. This high-level engagement has further cemented their robust bilateral relations, transforming the partnership into one with strategic elements.

The two sides expressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across several areas, including political and cultural relations, economic relations, trade and investment, defense and security, ICT and cybersecurity, green transition and renewable energy, and mobility and migration. They emphasized the importance of curbing irregular migration and promoting legal pathways for skill mobility from Bangladesh to Italy, alongside cooperation in the UN and the Indo-Pacific region.

The consultations also addressed various regional and international issues such as the Rohingya crisis, prevention of violent extremism, climate change and food security, the situations in Myanmar and Afghanistan, and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Before the Political Consultations, Riccardo Guariglia paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud. They discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation through high-level exchanges, trade and investment, AI and ICT, green growth, skills mobility, higher education, and culture.