DHAKA: Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Saturday said Bangladesh acts as bridge between South Asia and South East Asia.

“Bangladesh has always maintained very friendly relations with her close neighbors and countries among the South East Asian countries. In fact, Bangladesh acts as bridge between South Asia and South East Asia,” the minister said this at a program marking the 48th founding anniversary of ASEAN at the Thai Embassy in Dhaka.’

On this occasion, on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh and on my own behalf, he extended the warmest greetings and heartiest felicitations to the governments and peoples of the ASEAN Countries.

He also renewed the government’s promise to work hand in hand to further strengthen Bangladesh's relations with ASEAN countries as also the links between South Asia and South-East Asia.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of the very vibrant regional organizations which cover about 9% of the world’s population.

It is based on regional integration through the “three pillars”-political security, socio-cultural integration, and economic integration. Currently as a single entity, ASEAN is the 8th largest economy of the world and is still growing which shows the inherent strength it possesses.

Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told the audiences that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always emphasizes on the importance of a strong relationship with the ASEAN countries. Bangladesh has established its resident missions in almost all the ASEAN countries.

According to her commitment to enhance the bondage, she in the recent past, visited the ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Lao PDR, the minister added.

BDST: 1430 HRS, AUG 8, 2015
RS