DHAKA, Oct 9, 2021 (BSS) - Romania government has announced donating

200,000 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh.

  The declaration came while Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen held official
talks with his Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu in Bucharest on Friday, a
foreign ministry press release said here.

  During the meeting, the two ministers took stock of the various aspects of
bilateral ties as well as discussed important regional and multilateral
issues of mutual interest.

  This is first official visit to Bucharest at the level of Foreign Minister
since the independence of Bangladesh.

  Both the foreign ministers expressed deep satisfaction over the current
progress of bilateral engagements between the two friendly countries.

  Bangladesh foreign minister put emphasis on the initiatives of the two
countries to boost the volume of bilateral trade at the expected level.

  He urged the Romanian investors and companies to enter into joint ventures
or cent percent owned business ventures in the 100 special economic zones,
which are currently being set up in Bangladesh as well as in High-Tech Parks.

  Dr. Momen also sought support from Romania in questions of GSP facilities
in European market.

  The two foreign ministers consented on extending cooperation in the areas
of education and culture while the possibilities of sending skilled,
unskilled manpower from Bangladesh to Romania have also been discussed.

  Bangladesh foreign minister apprised Bogdan of the latest developments and
the measures taken by Bangladesh government for the rehabilitation of the
forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

  Dr Momen sought the active cooperation of Romania and the international
community to ensure the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar
nationals to their homeland.

  The Romanian foreign minister praised the efforts taken by Bangladesh
towards the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and assured possible
assistance of Romania in this regard.

  They exchanged opinions and experiences on cooperation in different
international and regional fora between Bangladesh and Romania.

  Bogdan thanked Bangladesh for a robust cooperation in different
International organizations.

  Dr. Momen reiterated the strong admiration of the people of Bangladesh for
the Romanian due to the valued support and contribution received from the
people of Romania during the Liberation War in 1971.

  He invited his counterpart to visit Bangladesh along with a business
delegation while his Romanian counterpart accepted the invitation.

  After the meeting, a memorandum of Understanding on "Foreign Office
Consultation" between the two foreign ministries has been signed by the two
ministers.

  At the end of the bilateral official talks, both the foreign ministers took
part at a joint press conference.

  In the afternoon, Dr Momen visited the University of Politehnica of
Bucharest (UPB), the largest Technical University not only in Romania but
also in the whole East European region.

  During his meeting with the Rector, they discussed various aspects of
cooperation in the field of education between the two countries.

  In presence of Dr. Momen, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the
Bangladesh Embassy in Romania and the University of Polythcnica of Bucharest
related to "Promotion of the UPB Excellence Scholarship Program" has been
inked by the Rector of the University and the Ambassador of Bangladesh.

  This MoU will create opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue their
higher study in technical field in UPB with the university scholarship.

  The rector of the university announced four scholarships for Bangladeshi
students which will be increased in the coming years.

  Dr. Momen invited the rector to visit Bangladesh to attend the Peace
Conference to be held in Dhaka on 4-6 December next year.