Foreign minister Dipu Moni has sought formal apology from Pakistan for the genocide and atrocities committed by its military in 1971.
She also called for Pakistan's understanding and recognition of Bangladesh's position on resolving outstanding issues, including repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, division of assets and war reparations.
She said this when new high commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi paid a courtesy visit to the minister on Sunday at her office.
"Early resolution of the outstanding issues would enable the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan to make a great leap forward and create a wider space for cooperation," she said, according to a media release of the foreign ministry.
The minister assured the new Pakistani high commissioner of all possible cooperation in discharge of his duties in Bangladesh.
Dipu Moni appreciated the high commissioner's point that an enhanced level of people-to-people contact could go a long way towards promoting better understanding among the two peoples.
Both of them noted that there remains immense potential to take the existing cooperation in trade, economic, social, educational and cultural fields to newer heights.
The foreign minister recalled that she had held fruitful discussions with her Pakistani counterpart on a number of occasions recently and said that she would like to invite the foreign minister to Bangladesh.
The high commissioner said that Bangladesh and Pakistan are enjoying excellent cordial relations based on traditional bonds of friendship between the two peoples.
He informed that Pakistan has been trying to expand bilateral relations with Bangladesh in areas such as scholarship for students, sponsoring sports events, and arts and culture.
EU PROPOSAL
On the issue of waiver for Pakistani products into the EU markets, Dipu Moni said Bangladesh, frequently visited by even more devastating natural disasters, has full sympathy with the flood victims of Pakistan.
She, however, remarked that giving trade preference to a country solely on account of natural disaster would be unprecedented.
She said that a number of countries, including those from Latin America, opposed the initiative even before Bangladesh.
She added that Bangladesh's decision in this regard would be considered on the merits of the proposal and not on whether other countries lent support to the initiative.
The process of discussions was still continuing at the EU and the WTO, and Bangladesh would remain engaged in the process and take a decision based on how the process evolves, she stated.
JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION
Both sides emphasised the need for early convening of the joint economic commission (JEC) meeting.
Pakistan side has already sought to know the convenience of the authorities concerned of Bangladesh for holding the JEC meeting.
The foreign minister said that she had talked to the commerce minister in this regard and that the latter would visit Islamabad for holding the meet at the earliest.
A set of suitable dates will soon be communicated to Islamabad for the purpose through diplomatic channel.
Both sides also expressed deep satisfaction at the cooperation Bangladesh and Pakistan extend to each other in various international forums.
She also called for Pakistan's understanding and recognition of Bangladesh's position on resolving outstanding issues, including repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, division of assets and war reparations.
She said this when new high commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi paid a courtesy visit to the minister on Sunday at her office.
"Early resolution of the outstanding issues would enable the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan to make a great leap forward and create a wider space for cooperation," she said, according to a media release of the foreign ministry.
The minister assured the new Pakistani high commissioner of all possible cooperation in discharge of his duties in Bangladesh.
Dipu Moni appreciated the high commissioner's point that an enhanced level of people-to-people contact could go a long way towards promoting better understanding among the two peoples.
Both of them noted that there remains immense potential to take the existing cooperation in trade, economic, social, educational and cultural fields to newer heights.
The foreign minister recalled that she had held fruitful discussions with her Pakistani counterpart on a number of occasions recently and said that she would like to invite the foreign minister to Bangladesh.
The high commissioner said that Bangladesh and Pakistan are enjoying excellent cordial relations based on traditional bonds of friendship between the two peoples.
He informed that Pakistan has been trying to expand bilateral relations with Bangladesh in areas such as scholarship for students, sponsoring sports events, and arts and culture.
EU PROPOSAL
On the issue of waiver for Pakistani products into the EU markets, Dipu Moni said Bangladesh, frequently visited by even more devastating natural disasters, has full sympathy with the flood victims of Pakistan.
She, however, remarked that giving trade preference to a country solely on account of natural disaster would be unprecedented.
She said that a number of countries, including those from Latin America, opposed the initiative even before Bangladesh.
She added that Bangladesh's decision in this regard would be considered on the merits of the proposal and not on whether other countries lent support to the initiative.
The process of discussions was still continuing at the EU and the WTO, and Bangladesh would remain engaged in the process and take a decision based on how the process evolves, she stated.
JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION
Both sides emphasised the need for early convening of the joint economic commission (JEC) meeting.
Pakistan side has already sought to know the convenience of the authorities concerned of Bangladesh for holding the JEC meeting.
The foreign minister said that she had talked to the commerce minister in this regard and that the latter would visit Islamabad for holding the meet at the earliest.
A set of suitable dates will soon be communicated to Islamabad for the purpose through diplomatic channel.
Both sides also expressed deep satisfaction at the cooperation Bangladesh and Pakistan extend to each other in various international forums.
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