The Honorable M. Morshed Khan, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh will pay an official visit to the Philippines from 13 to 16 November 2003.  The visit is expected to advance political, economic, and cultural relations between the Philippines and Bangladesh through  innovative and meaningful cooperation.

On this official visit, Foreign Minister Khan will be accompanied by Mr. Golam Mohammed, Director General (Southeast Asia) and Mr. Sufiur Rahman, Director, Foreign Minister’s Office who will also meet with their Philippine counterparts.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople will meet FM Morshed Khan on 14 November to discuss bilateral, regional, and international issues and common concerns. “I look forward to a healthy exchange of views on global issues as well as on matters mutually beneficial to our two countries in the field of education and information technology. We will move on possible linkages – following a blueprint for cooperation in training and human resource development”, the Secretary confirmed.

Foreign Minister Khan is also expected to call on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President Corazon C. Aquino, and hold discussions with the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Relations, Jose Apolinario L. Lozada, Jr.; Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Manuel Villar, Jr.; House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr.; and Department of Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus.

Coming close to the heels of the visits of other foreign dignitaries, Secretary Ople commented that the forthcoming visit of the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister underscores the international prestige of the Philippines in this age of globalization while noting that shuttle diplomacy has never been more pronounced as now.

The two foreign ministers are also expected to discuss the Philippines’ bid for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), support for peace in Mindanao and the sharing of expertise on micro-credit  financing.  END