DHAKA, April 8, 2021 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the closing ceremony of D-8 Summit today laid emphasis on working together to build a better future and reach a common vision of achieving peace and prosperity for people and the next generation.
“…the world is now passing through a critical period. The Covid-19 pandemic has created havoc on the global economy. It’s now more important than ever to work unitedly for building back better [future],” she said.
The Premier said this while delivering her closing remarks as the chair of the 10th D-8 Summit that took place here virtually.
Leaders of D-8 countries –Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey- joined this virtual summit.
Bangladesh hosted and chaired this summit at a unique time when the country is celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of its independence.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered the opening remarks as the current Chair of D-8 and then handed over the D-8 Chairmanship to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina said hearing statements and suggestions from the D-8 leaders she felt hopeful and confident that working together, the D-8 can create a better tomorrow for the one billion-plus people in the Member States.
“New solutions were encouraged. New ways were explored to transform societies and economies by optimally using the demographic dividend and the 4th industrial revolution,” she said.
Mentioning that D-8 held the Youth Summit for the first time, she said “Let’s take the benefit of the demographic dividend that we as a group are enjoying now.”
The Prime Minister said the private sectors of the D-8 countries will have more productive, mutually beneficial interaction and cooperation.
She said several different initiatives of the D-8, covering wide ranging issues like technology, agriculture, business, health and education have been highlighted in the summit.
“I’m confident that with our support and encouragement, the D-8 will flourish further in the coming days, and we’ll be able to achieve even more,” she hoped.
At this juncture of time, the Premier said, “Let’s transform the D-8 into a more dynamic, more visionary, more forward-looking Group. Let us take the D-8 to newer heights, let’s work for closer economic and social ties. Let’s work together to achieve our common vision of achieving peace and prosperity for our peoples and our next generation.”
President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, Prime Minister of Malaysia Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly and Foreign Minister of Nigeria Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama on behalf of its President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the summit.
Two documents — Dhaka Declaration 2021 and D-8 Decennial Roadmap for 2020-2030– were adopted in the virtual summit.
Besides, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulkadir Imam became the new Secretary General of D-8.
In addition, four special guests including the State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP and FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim also joined and delivered speech at the summit.