We never ask Bangladesh to choose, but ready to strengthen engagement: France

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet on Tuesday said France does not want Bangladesh to choose between Europe and other partners, stressing that they are ready to strengthen their engagement with Bangladesh.

“So, France, Europe, we never say to Bangladesh - you choose between us and them. That's what I said. I mentioned at the very beginning. We build partnership. Partnership is not excluding. It is involving,” he told diplomatic correspondents at the “DCAB Talk” noting that the Franco-Bangladeshi relations have great potential.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted its flagship event at the Jatiya Press Club. DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and its General Secretary Emrul Kayesh also spoke.

On Bangladesh’s plan to purchase Airbus aircraft, the French Ambassador said Biman Bangladesh Airlines chose Airbus for technical and business reasons rather than political considerations.

“That's why, for very good reasons and technical reasons, Biman has chosen Airbus,” he said, adding that discussions over the proposed aircraft deal are continuing and that such negotiations can take time

“Biman maintained its interest with Airbus and discussions are still going on. We know it may take sometimes, because we want discussions to be done in the best manner possible,” the Ambassador said, noting that he could not disclose details of the technical negotiations because the deal is between Biman and Airbus.

“So it may take time, but I can assure you that negotiation has been going on and very well with others. It's an Airbus contract, which will come, in due time, with Airbus signing with Biman. So I'm not worried at all,” said the French envoy, expressing confidence in both the government and Biman regarding the negotiations.

The envoy said this this is a good test for the present government. “So for me, it's not an issue. Wait some time, some days, and we'll see what happens, but things are going well.”

He also talked about Bangladesh’s engagement with Europe, including the possibility of a free trade agreement (FTA) and cooperation in the aviation sector.

The Ambassador stressed that France and Europe are not seeking to exclude other countries from Bangladesh. “So we are not in an exclusion mode.”

He said the European Union has signed FTAs with several countries but Bangladesh has yet to be included in that group.

“We have signed FTAs with many countries. Vietnam, India, Australia, Canada, not Bangladesh. You are not on the map,” he said.

“So if you want to be more on the map, if you want Europe to engage, you have to show the interest of engaging in the long term partnership. That's why Airbus matters,” the envoy added.

He pointed to Bangladesh’s strong trade relationship with Europe, particularly in the readymade garment sector.

The Ambassador said France and Europe remain open to partnership, while cautioning that opportunities could be missed if Bangladesh decides not to move in that direction. “We believe in partnership. We want to create a true partnership, a long-standing partnership.”

He also highlighted cooperation between Bangladesh and French companies in high-technology sectors.

Reliable, Predictable Partner for Bangladesh

Ambassador Séré-Charlet said France is a “long-standing, reliable, predictable, and benevolent” partner for Bangladesh.

And like Bangladesh, he said, it seeks to promote - cooperation rather than confrontation; multilateralism; peace in the world.

The envoy said France is a secular country that does not discriminate against its citizens based on their beliefs, respects all religions and notably Islam, maintains strong and longstanding ties with the Arab and Muslim world, and supports the Palestinian people.

He said France shares many values and interests with Bangladesh also as the only member state of the European Union who is a major power in the Indo-Pacific region, which is home to 2 million of its citizens.

The envoy said France's diplomatic and strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in its relationship with Bangladesh, are centered around promoting a multilateral "third way."

He said faced with the growing rivalry between the United States and China, France is positioning itself as a balancing power, leveraging its status as an Indian Ocean nation. “Promoting a "third way" in the face of hegemonic powers means - strategic autonomy, maritime security and stability in the Indian Ocean.”

“We need that the countries that share the same values and goals (peaceful international relations) be more assertive and more proactive, to cooperate more, and to demonstrate, through their example, the effectiveness of this model,” said the French envoy.

He said they are seeing an unprecedented rapprochement with Canada, as well as with other countries. “It is not only geopolitical but also economy and business. I believe that Franco-Bangladeshi relations have great potential.”