BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the third lecture of the Country Lecture Series on 07 November 2013 at BIISS auditorium, Dhaka. The country lecture series aim at enriching our understanding about friendly countries with whom Bangladesh has significant bilateral relations. The third lecture in this series was delivered by H. E. Mr. Lee Yun-young, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh on his country ROK. Major General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, ndu, psc, Director General of BIISS, chaired the Country Lecture and delivered the address of welcome.

In his Welcome Address, Major General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, ndu, psc, Director General, BIISS, mentioned that Bangladesh and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have an excellent bilateral relation. Since RoK's early recognition to Bangladesh on 12 May 1972, the bilateral ties have bloomed into a time tested friendship with mutually beneficially cooperation expanding over many areas. He noted that both countries are now closely working in the fields of trade, investment, sharing of skill, development cooperation, technology transfer, training, employment and human resource development. He added that Korea has been a significant development partner of Bangladesh and there is a huge scope for further expanding and developing this in the days ahead.

H. E. Lee Yun-young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh in his lecture on All about Korea & Korea-Bangladesh relations focused various aspects related to Korea and its relation with Bangladesh. He noted that Korea is a rising middle power in Asia who successfully transformed its economy and democracy and also became a growing soft power. Major directions of Korean foreign policy are resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, developing relations with neighbours, promoting peace in Northeast Asia and playing role as a responsible middle power contributing to world peace and progress. The Ambassador mentioned that excellent bilateral relationship prevails between Bangladesh and Korea in all fronts from economy and development cooperation to governance, education, culture, military etc. He added that as the largest investors in Bangladesh, Korea invested not only in garments but also in infrastructure such as power plant, R&D sector, ICT, business service etc areas. Korea also receives a large number of Bangladeshi workers through its Employment Permit System (EPS).

In the concluding remarks, Major General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, ndu, psc, Director General, BIISS, mentioned that South Korea is a trusted partner for four decades in manifold areas of diplomatic, economic, technical and cultural areas. He expressed his belief that from a similar socio-economic context prevailing in Bangladesh and South Korea back in 1960s, the country's emergence as Asian Miracle in a very short time span is a great lesson for developing countries like Bangladesh striving for economic advancement. Major General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed extended his gratitude and thanks to His Excellency Ambassador Lee Yun-young and all distinguished participants for their unreserved support and cooperation in making the Country Lecture a success.

The Country Lecture on the Republic of Korea was participated by scholars, members of academia and media, government officials and policy makers.