Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has sought the Philippines' support for Bangladesh's bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), given the Philippines' current role as the chair of the Southeast Asian bloc.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the request was made during a bilateral meeting with Philippine Foreign Minister Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro on the sidelines of an event held in the Philippine capital, Manila, marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia.

During the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, including nursing, visa simplification for medical tourism, the expansion of trade and commerce, and family reunification.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman also sought the Philippines' support in efforts to find a sustainable solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis.

The two ministers emphasized the importance of further increasing economic engagement between Bangladesh and the Philippines and exchanged views on various ways to strengthen bilateral relations.

Bangladesh has been making continuous efforts to attain the status of an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner with the aim of deepening institutional engagement and expanding cooperation with the Southeast Asian regional bloc.