Bangladesh, Pakistan resume economic talks after decades
DHAKA: After a hiatus of nearly two decades, the Bangladesh‑Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) resumed bilateral economic talks in Dhaka on Monday. Delegations were led by Bangladesh's Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed and Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.
The two‑day session, the highest‑level forum for economic cooperation between the two nations, focused on strengthening ties across multiple sectors, including agriculture, information technology, food security, aviation and shipping.
Both sides emphasised the need to reduce non‑tariff barriers and expand collaboration into new areas such as education, manpower export and industrial sectors, while noting that bilateral trade remains under $1 billion, a figure they consider modest.
The delegations also stressed the importance of revitalising broader regional cooperation through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan improved in 2024 after Bangladesh's new interim government took over, a shift evidenced by a notable change in diplomatic rhetoric and the initiation of joint cooperative projects.
By RSS/Xinhua
