Chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday vowed that the relationship between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste would continue to grow and expend.
鈥極ur relationship continues to grow. We have signed some agreements. Beyond the agreements, we also make sure our relationships in trade and investment continue and expend,鈥� he said while speaking at a joint press conference at chief adviser鈥檚 office in Dhaka.
President Jose Ramos-Horta urged Bangladesh business firms to come up聽聽 with their investment in Timor-Leste at the event.
The chief adviser said that Timor-Leste president Jose Ramos-Horta had already invited all Bangladeshi investors to come in his country with investment and encouraged the relations that created between the two nations to make bigger.
Recalling that when he first visited to East Timor, he saw many Bangladeshi every-day products selling even in villages of that country. Later, Yunus invited Timor-Leste to produce Bangladeshi products in the country as there is a bigger market around it.
Professor Yunus said that Timor-Leste would be a member of ASEAN forum soon and its president had assured Bangladesh that as an ASEAN member, his country would try its best to make sure ASEAN supports Bangladesh in Rohingya issue.
The chief adviser said that they discussed how Rohingyas could be repatriated to Myanmar, seeking the support of Timor-Leste in all international forums to that end.
Highlighting the contribution of the Timor-Leste president to global peace, Yunus said that Ramos-Horta, also the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, was a freedom fighter and a great writer who stood up for the people of the world, not only for the people of East
Timor.
Recalling the role of Bangladeshi Ameerah Haq, the then special representative of the secretary-general in the UN integrated mission in Timor-Leste, the chief adviser said that Bangladeshi peacekeeping police force played a significant role in maintaining law and order in East Timor.
He said when he visited Timor-Leste in 2004 at the invitation of Ameerah Haq, he saw how much respect was shown to Bangladeshis, while Bangladeshis were ultimately running the country.
President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta stressed the need for boosting economic and trade relations between the two nations.
鈥業 see we can import more from Bangladesh and we invite Bangladeshi companies to come in Timor-Leste as by next year, we will join ASEAN and will be part of a region of 700 million people,鈥� he said
鈥楾imor-Leste will join a GDP of over $4 trillion next year,鈥� Ramos-Horta mentioned.
The Timor-Leste president hoped that Bangladesh would be a partner of developing his country.
He said that Nobel Peace Laureate professor Yunus was one of the most respected leaders in the world, who was active in office, comparing the Bangladesh chief adviser to the world leaders like Nelson Mandela, John F Kenned, Mahatma Gandhi, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.
鈥楽o, Bangladesh is very fortunate, very lucky, to have such an unassuming and humble person leading...he is working with you - the young people - to transform the country,鈥� he said.
Mentioning that both Bangladesh and Timor-Leste have similar history of suffering, the Timor-Leste president said that the people of Bangladesh were resilient, hardworking, creative and successful.
Terming Yunus his brother, friend and mentor, he thanked the Bangladesh government for hosting him, saying, 鈥業 feel honoured being here.鈥�
Earlier, in the day, Ramos-Horta held talks with chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus, followed by a delegation-level meeting.
