Thank you all for joining us on this special evening to welcome H. E. Mr. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, ambassador of France to Bangladesh.

France is one of the few European countries with which Bangladesh has always maintained a separate diplomatic channel, even after the advent of the EU. Today, we view France as probably the loudest voice on behalf of Bangladesh in Brussels.

Famously, the French fought on the side of the last Nawab of Bengal, Sirajuddowlah, at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Although that didn't end well for either party, this little detail has remained as a mark of deep ties forged through fire, and perhaps that is why even today, almost 300 years later, the ties between Bangladesh and France have not only endured, but thrived.

French support to Bangladesh in 1971 was memorable, French philosopher Andre Malraux famously asserted that Bangladesh's war of independence was his own war and he expressed his desire to come to Bangladesh to join Mukti Bahini.

Bangladeshis are cultural by nature, and exchanges in the field of arts have always been strong. The Alliance Francais has been present here since before independence, and has played a major role in facilitating these exchanges, apart from carving out its own place as an important cultural centre in both Dhaka and Chittagong.

A number of French businesses already operate in Bangladesh, from cafes to defence contractors, and we expect to see more in the future, as Bangladesh graduates into a middle-income country.

Economic relations between the two countries have flourished steadily. France is one of the largest buyers of Bangladesh RMG, while total bilateral trade in 2024 was $4.5 billion. That's nearly double what it was in 2021, and I believe the potential is there for at least doubling the existing figure again, in the foreseeable future.

Lastly, both the countries believe in the strength of bilateral and international cooperation in the face of the climate emergency, of which Bangladesh is one of the biggest victims.

Bangladesh and France have jointly called for the swift implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement, and for the mobilization of additional financing from all sources for development, climate and biodiversity.

May I now request you to raise our glasses in a toast to the health and happiness of each of us and to the growing ties between France and Bangladesh.

Long live Bangladesh - France friendship.