French Ambassador in Dhaka Marie Masdupuy speaks at the French National Day reception she hosted at the embassy on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Photo: Courtesy
French Ambassador in Dhaka Marie Masdupuy has explained the reasons why her country wants to develop strategic partnership with Bangladesh as she faces a lot of questions.
"I was asked many times in the last months, why would France want to develop a strategic partnership with a country like Bangladesh whereas it already has strong strategic partners in the region?" she said while speaking at the French National Day reception she hosted at the embassy on Thursday.
"Many experts and journalists want to think it’s all for purely commercial reasons, and are eager to mention the so-called Airbus deals and other equivalent trade perspectives. Of course, they are wrong and biased by our competitors," she said.
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"France’s eagerness to build up its relationship with Bangladesh is backed by the assumption that your country matters, that the fate and trajectory of your country do matter for the stability of this part of the world, at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region.
"France’s vision for a Third Way in the Indo-Pacific is based on respecting the sovereignty and strategic autonomy of our partners. Hence our eagerness to support Bangladesh in acquiring its strategic autonomy, as President Macron recalled in his congratulatory letter to HPM (Sheikh Hasina) last January," the ambassador said.
"Our relationship has indeed never been thriving like it is now. Our political relations enjoy a high degree of confidence and mutual trust as shown by the historic visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Bangladesh last September. I think we can say our leaders do enjoy a special relationship," said Marie Masdupuy.
To fight against the impact of climate change, France will continue to support ambitious goals and will strive to convince those countries and interest groups who have not yet admitted that there is no Planet B!
"With Bangladesh, we will shortly adopt an Adaptation Pact, a tribute to your country’s pioneering role in crafting locally led adaptation solutions. In June next year, France will host a UN Ocean Conference, in Nice," she said.
"I look forward to the active participation of Bangladesh in it, to join hands for the conservation of the oceans. The depth of our relations is also a tribute to the impressive and successful efforts displayed by Bangladesh to build a resilient economy."
The ambassador also noted the growing interest of French companies in participating in this development path --- for instance in the ICT sector to support the initiatives taken by the government of Bangladesh and the state minister for ICT, who recently went to France on a fruitful official visit.
The recent inauguration of the France-Bangladesh Business Club will support this renewed bond, which could already be witnessed with the very successful joint Trade and Investment Summit held in France last October, she said.
"Our cultural relations are growing by the day. Our support to artists, on both sides, will be enhanced by a new scheme of residencies. Alliance Française in Dhaka will celebrate its 65th anniversary next October. We are actively preparing the launch in France of cultural events focused on Bangladesh in the spring of 2025," she said.
"Your students are more and more attracted to our universities. And our archaeological cooperation is actively involved in support of the rehabilitation of Bangladesh’s cultural and historical legacy, like in Mahasthangarh.
"But it’s a fact that our current world continues to be the theatre of unwelcome developments," she added.
"The whole world today continues to suffer from the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. France, with its allies all across the planet, continues to support the Ukrainian people and will continue to do so, whatever it takes, until Ukraine wins this war," she said.
"France has been advocating for the respect of international humanitarian law and for the imposition of a real cease-fire, the only condition for peace talks to resume and result in the advent of an internationally recognized Palestinian State, peacefully coexisting with the State of Israel,” she added.
The ambassador said: "It can be very depressing at times. The increasing number of conflict zones, the rise of populism and illiberalism, all this goes also hand in hand with the surge in disinformation. But we are resilient. And we do share a common will to freshen up and reinvent the core values of democracy.
"The values of liberty, equality and fraternity were not invented by the French Revolution, but were brought together at the time as a mobilizing motto. These three words are today an integral part of our national heritage," she said.
The French celebrate their national day with the symbol of the unity of our nation in promoting respect for those fundamental values of which we are proud."
"They symbolize France all around the world and constitute the DNA of the French Republic," she said.
With Paris hosting the Olympic and Paralympic games, the ambassador said, “France is proud to host what is going to be the most iconic Olympic Games ever.”
“This has led us, here in Bangladesh, to discover your athletes and the importance of sports in building a more resilient, peaceful and modern society,” she said.
A video on the Olympics was also screened on a giant LED screen at the reception.
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