DHAKA: Johannes Matyassy, Assistant State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, will arrive here on February 27 for a 4-day visit to hold the second round of the bilateral political consultation between Bangladesh and Switzerland.

The consultation will be held on March 1.

Ambassador Matyassy, the leader of the Swiss delegation, and Ambassador Mizanur Rahman, the Additional Secretary (Bilateral) of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Bangladesh, will lead respective delegations during the consultation.

Embassy of Switzerland issued a press release on Thursday regarding the consultation.

It said apart from reviewing the current status of bilateral relations, the two countries will discuss ways to further strengthen economic, investment, development and cultural cooperation during the consultations.

A number of new areas of possible cooperation, such as renewable energy, will also be explored, it added.

The two sides will also exchange views on human rights and issues of regional and international importance.

During the visit, Ambassador Matyassy will meet the Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, A H Mahmud Ali, MP, Foreign Secretary, Md. Shahidul Haque, and the representatives of civil society and the business community. 

He will also visit project areas of the “Community Based Climate Adaptation by Coastal Afforestation” project, co-funded by the Swiss Government, in Barguna.

Switzerland and Bangladesh enjoy excellent bilateral relations. The first round of the consultation took place in 2013.

BDST: 1752 HRS, FEB 26, 2015