French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet on Tuesday affirmed that France does not require Bangladesh to select between Europe and alternative international partners, emphasizing a readiness to deepen bilateral engagement.

Addressing diplomatic reporters at the "DCAB Talk" hosted by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club, the ambassador highlighted the substantial potential in Franco-Bangladeshi relations, stating, "So, France, Europe, we never say to Bangladesh - you choose between us and them. That's what I said. I mentioned at the very beginning. We build partnership. Partnership is not excluding. It is involving."

DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh also delivered remarks during the flagship event.

Addressing Bangladesh's prospective purchase of Airbus aircraft, Ambassador Séré-Charlet clarified that Biman Bangladesh Airlines selected Airbus based on commercial and technical evaluations rather than political influences, remarking, "That's why, for very good reasons and technical reasons, Biman has chosen Airbus."

He confirmed ongoing dialogue regarding the proposed procurement, acknowledging the extended duration required for such transactions by stating, "Biman maintained its interest with Airbus and discussions are still going on. We know it may take sometimes, because we want discussions to be done in the best manner possible."

Noting that specific technical details remain confidential between Biman and Airbus, the envoy expressed complete confidence in the negotiation process with both Biman and the government, adding, "So it may take time, but I can assure you that negotiation has been going on and very well with others. It's an Airbus contract, which will come, in due time, with Airbus signing with Biman. So I'm not worried at all."

Terming the deal a positive assessment for the administration, he added, "So for me, it's not an issue. Wait some time, some days, and we'll see what happens, but things are going well."

The ambassador discussed Bangladesh's broader European engagement, including potential free trade agreement (FTA) prospects and aviation sector cooperation, reiterating, "So we are not in an exclusion mode."

Pointing out that while the European Union has established FTAs with multiple nations, Bangladesh remains outside that framework, he noted, "We have signed FTAs with many countries. Vietnam, India, Australia, Canada, not Bangladesh. You are not on the map."

He emphasized that long-term commitment is vital for deeper integration, stating, "So if you want to be more on the map, if you want Europe to engage, you have to show the interest of engaging in the long term partnership. That's why Airbus matters."

While referencing Bangladesh's extensive trade ties with Europe, particularly within the readymade garment sector, the envoy cautioned against missing potential growth avenues, observing, "We believe in partnership. We want to create a true partnership, a long-standing partnership."

He further underlined existing high-technology sector collaborations involving French enterprises and Bangladeshi partners.

Describing France as a "long-standing, reliable, predictable, and benevolent" partner, Ambassador Séré-Charlet stated that both nations share core commitments to multilateralism, global peace, and cooperation over confrontation.

He outlined France's secular governance model that respects all religious faiths—specifically Islam—alongside its historical ties with the Arab and Muslim world and sustained support for the Palestinian populace.

The envoy noted shared strategic values as the sole European Union member state with significant Indo-Pacific presence, home to two million French citizens.

Outlining France's pursuit of a diplomatic "third way" amid rising United States-China rivalry, he emphasized leveraging France's status as an Indian Ocean power to foster equilibrium, noting, "Promoting a "third way" in the face of hegemonic powers means - strategic autonomy, maritime security and stability in the Indian Ocean."

Advocating for enhanced collaboration among like-minded nations, he concluded, "We need that the countries that share the same values and goals (peaceful international relations) be more assertive and more proactive, to cooperate more, and to demonstrate, through their example, the effectiveness of this model," while pointing to an unprecedented alignment with Canada and other global partners spanning geopolitical and commercial spheres.