Bangladesh and Denmark on Monday (Apr 25) signed a Framework Document on Sustainable and Green Engagement as the two countries shared joint commitment in tackling global challenges like climate change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen and Danish Minister for Development and Cooperation Flemming Moller Mortensen inked the document at a city hotel function. Visiting Danish Crown Princess Mary was present to witness the signing ceremony, local media reported.
During the ceremony, Dr Momen said that the Framework Document would serve as an expression of intent between Bangladesh and Denmark, which will be supplemented by an Action Plan involving the concerned government entities.
"This initiative signals our two countries' shared interest in further diversifying the content of our bilateral relations," he said.
The Bangladesh foreign minister said the frame document should help build synergies between Bangladesh's home-grown climate change adaptation strategies and Danish innovation and technological expertise.
The Danish minister for development cooperation stated that Denmark and Bangladesh are two countries with a strong and active engagement in the global climate agenda.
"Signing of the green framework document today, signals that we are ready to 'walk the talk' on the commitments made in the Paris Agreement – the international treaty on climate change," he said.
The document focuses on climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental damage and loss of biodiversity in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, said a joint statement after the signing ceremony.
Denmark is the first country to enter a Framework Engagement with Bangladesh aiming to provide knowledge and technology towards attaining a sustainable and greener future, it added.
The cooperation will bring all instruments into play, ranging from diplomatic action and development cooperation to climate funding and investments, trade and private sector relations, including public-private partnerships, said the statement.
After the signing ceremony, Dr Momen held a meeting with the Danish minister to discuss various issues related to development cooperation between the two countries.
Denmark Crown Princess Mary arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning on a three-day tour to visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar and climate vulnerable community in Sundarbans area. After arriving Dhaka, the princess held a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban.
During her visit, the princess is scheduled to visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar and different areas in Sundarbans to interact with climate vulnerable community.
