PM steps up diplomatic engagement at COP31

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday exchanged greetings with several world leaders and held bilateral meetings with foreign dignitaries on the sidelines of the World Leaders’ Summit of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN climate convention in Antalya, Turkiye. 
The prime minister arrived at the summit venue at 10:10am local time, where he was welcomed by the organisers, his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, Tarique joined heads of state and government and representatives of international organisations at the Leaders’ Lounge, where they exchanged greetings and held brief informal conversations on issues of mutual interest, reports BSS.
Among those he met were Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
He also exchanged greetings with members of the Indonesian delegation, including its head, Hashim Djojohadikusumo.
Later, the prime minister held courtesy meetings with Djojohadikusumo, the OIC secretary general and Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Agirbas.
In a separate engagement, Tarique held a 30-minute bilateral meeting with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the summit venue, beginning at 2:45pm local time.
The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen Bangladesh-Uzbekistan relations, address the impacts of climate change and enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, Hasan Shiplu said.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir were present at the meeting.
Later in the afternoon, at 4:30pm local time, Tarique held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the climate summit. They discussed matters of mutual interest, including Chinese investment in Bangladesh and cooperation in addressing climate change. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir was present at the meeting.
The prime minister was accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo during the summit engagements.
Tarique is scheduled to address a plenary session of COP31 today. He is also expected to hold further bilateral meetings and pay courtesy calls on several world leaders on the sidelines of the summit. On Tuesday, a day before the summit opened, he held a 30-minute bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Maxx Royal Hotel.
The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen Bangladesh-Turkiye relations and emphasised cooperation on issues of mutual interest, including addressing the risks of climate change.
Tarique arrived in Antalya on Tuesday on a three-day official visit.
The summit, which ends today, has brought together heads of state and government, representatives of international organisations and climate experts to discuss climate change and strengthen international cooperation.