BIISS Country Lecture Series Part- 1 Bangladesh Institute of International & Strategic Studies BIISS Country Lecture Series Part 1 Edited by Major General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, ndu, psc Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) 1/46 Old Elephant Road, Eskaton, Dhaka-1000 Published by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) 1/46 Old Elephant Road, Eskaton, Dhaka-1000 Phone: +880 2 9353808, 8315808, 9336287 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.biiss.org Printed by GraphNet Limited 6/B, Naya Paltan, Ground Floor, Dhaka-1000 Phone : 9354142, 9354133 E-mail : [email protected] CONTENTS SL Topics Page 1. Editorial 01 2. Biography of H. E. Ms. Norlin Binti Othman, High Commissioner, Ma- 07 laysian High Commission in Bangladesh 3. Lecture on Malaysia 08 H. E. Ms. Norlin Binti Othman 4. Biography of H. E. Mr. W. A. Sarath K. Weragoda, High Commissioner, 17 The High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Bangladesh 5 Sri Lanka, Its Foreign Policy, Security Strategy and Relations with Bangladesh 18 H. E. Mr. W. A. Sarath K. Weragoda 6. Biography of H. E. Mr. Lee Yun-young, Ambassador, Embassy of the 29 Republic of Korea in Bangladesh 7. All about Korea and Korea-Bangladesh Relation 30 H. E. Mr. Lee Yun-young 8. Biography of H. E. Mr. Iwan Wiranata Atmadja, Ambassador, The Em- 36 bassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Bangladesh 9. Indonesia-Bangladesh: Forging Ahead to the Future 37 H. E. Mr. Iwan Wiranata Atmadja 10. Biography of H. E. Mr. Alexander A. Nikolaev, Ambassador, Ambassador 47 Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary, The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bangladesh 11 Russia in Modern International Policy 48 H. E. Mr. Alexander A. Nikolaev 12. Biography of H. E. Mr. Pankaj Saran, High Commissioner, The High 59 Commission of India in Bangladesh 13. India and India-Bangladesh Relations 60 H. E. Mr. Pankaj Saran 14. Biography of H. E. Mr. Li Jun, Ambassador, The Embassy of the People’s 67 Republic of China in Bangladesh 15. China’s Development and the China-Bangladesh Relationship 68 H. E. Mr. Li Jun 16. Biography of H.E. Mr. Dan W. Mozena, Ambassador of the United States 73 in Bangladesh 17. America’s Partnership with Bangladesh: Stronger, Deeper and Broader than Ever 74 H.E. Mr. Dan W. Mozena Country Lecture Series Editorial This book is a collection of the lectures presented in the Country Lecture Series (CLS) introduced from 2013 by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). BIISS launched this new programme titled “Country Lecture Series” on 25 August 2013 at BIISS auditorium, Dhaka. Dr. Dipu Moni, MP, the then Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, was present as the Chief Guest and inaugurated the “Country Lecture Series”. In essence, it is part of our efforts to explore the potentials and avenues to promote and intensify our relations further with the countries. So far, eight country lectures with Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, China, India, Russia and the USA were conducted by BIISS. Precisely, the main objective of the CLS is to strengthen bilateral relations with the respective countries and identify different areas of cooperation through discussion and exchange of views. It is worthwhile to mention that each individual country has its distinct foreign policy which is shaped, modified and rephrased considering the country’s strengths and weaknesses. It needs no mention that the world order is changing fast and there is no alternative to strengthen cooperation with the outside world. Therefore, each country regardless of size, location and strength tries to maintain relations with other countries with whom it has diplomatic ties. Bangladesh is not an exception in this regard. Bangladesh is on the verge of economic advancement and its GDP growth rate is about 6 per cent. Bangladesh needs good bilateral ties to maintain this economic pace in the years to come. This pragmatic realisation led BIISS to take the initiative of organising a series 1 of discussion termed ‘country lecture’. Needless to say that, the continuous endeavour of a state is to deepen and enhance development cooperation with the developed world in the one hand; countries of neighbourhood on the other. Undeniably, political instability, distrust, tension and mutual suspicion with the neighbouring countries shadow positive areas of cooperation. Hence, it is imperative to reduce gaps through discussions and dialogues for the sake of good neighbourly relationship. In line with this, Bangladesh is trying to maintain fraternal relations with the countries of immediate neighbourhood South Asia and South East Asia (SEA). Both two regions are pertinent for Bangladesh as it shares border with two countries of the regions namely India and Myanmar. South Asian countries get significant importance in Bangladesh foreign policy because of major geopolitical and economic interests. Moreover, Bangladesh is in advantageous position due to geographical location as well as its potentiality to serve as a bridge between South Asia and SEA. In Bangladesh’s foreign policy, it is prioritised that concerted efforts are required to get the benefits from each country. It needs to underscore that SEA is also an important destination of skilled and semi-skilled manpower export and one of our foreign policy agendas is to ensure better destination for them. In addition, a crucial aspect of our foreign relations in recent times has been improved engagement with the East. Bangladesh is trying to maintain friendly relations with the Country Lecture Series East Asian countries. Bilateral relations with these countries are based on the principles of peaceful co-existence, good neighbourliness, partnership in development, mutual trust and confidence. The contribution and cooperation from these countries in Bangladesh’s development has already been highly appreciated. Furthermore, Bangladesh is trying to increase closer partnership with these countries to take the relationship at a new height. Apart from Asian countries, one of the major foreign policy objectives of Bangladesh is to maintain strategic partnership with the big powers namely the USA and Russia. Bangladesh is enjoying good relations with these two countries and the relations are growing substantially from different aspects. Hence, the reason behind introducing the Country Lecture Series, was to understand each other, enhance knowledge and explore untapped potentials of bilateral relationship. Accordingly, the first country lecture in this series was about Malaysia which was held on 25 August 2013. The lecture was delivered by Her Excellency (H.E.) Ms. Norlin Binti Othman, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh. Undoubtedly, Bangladesh- Malaysia relation enjoys cultural and religious affinity. Malaysia’s early recognition of Bangladesh after the independence marks the beginning of the relation. Since both the countries are members of OIC, NAM, the Commonwealth, D-8 and ARF as well as strong proponents of multilateralism, Bangladesh and Malaysia share common understanding on major regional and international issues. The major areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Malaysia have been economic and technical assistance, trade and 2 investment, employment of Bangladeshi work force in Malaysia, defence-cooperation, educational exchange, tourism, culture and sport, technology-transfer and human resource development. The second country lecture of the country lecture series covered Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka which was held on 3 October 2013. In this lecture, Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Mr. W. A. Sarath K. Weragoda, delivered the lecture. The state of warm relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is noteworthy. By now, the growing bilateral cooperation covers a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, tourism, culture, sports, etc. The two countries see eye-to-eye on many regional and international issues and have been working closely in the international fora to advance peace, stability, and development. Bangladesh is the fourth largest trading partner of Sri Lanka in the SAARC region in terms of exports and imports. However, it is also true that the trade potential has not been exploited to the fullest. Nevertheless, over the last few years, several areas of further trade and commerce have been identified. Sri Lanka has shown its eagerness to import medicines from Bangladesh. There are also prospects for investment in jute goods and infrastructural sectors in Sri Lanka. Both countries are now closely working to reduce tariffs at a faster rate and rationalise sensitive lists under multilateral frameworks like SAFTA. The untapped trade and commerce prospects can be realised further by enhancing maritime connectivity between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh can also be benefitted by accessing Hambantota sea port for transhipment to reduce time and export costs. It can be said that trade figures will soar much higher Country Lecture Series Country Lecture Series when the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two friendly countries will be fully operational. The third country lecture in this series was about Republic of South Korea (ROK) on 07 November 2013 at BIISS auditorium, Dhaka. The lecture was delivered by H.E. Mr. Lee Yun-Young, Ambassador, and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh. ROK contributed significantly to rebuild the war-ravaged country. Bangladesh-ROK bilateral ties is a time-tested friendship with mutually beneficial cooperation expanding over many areas.