German Ambassador: EU a most reliable partner of Bangladesh

The German Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Fahrenholtz has said that the EU remains a most reliable partner of Bangladesh.

“In my opinion the EU remains a most reliable partner of Bangladesh,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

The tweet comes following Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen’s comment: “Bangladesh will continue to maintain non-aligned and balanced foreign policy and it will decide what to do according to those principles.”

The foreign minister made the remarks when his comment was sought on Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming's remarks on "Quad" and Bangladesh.

Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming on Monday said Bangladesh’s relations with China will "substantially get damaged" if Bangladesh joins "Quad," a US-led initiative.

Also Read - FM Momen: China's comment on Quad an advance one

The envoy said obviously it will not be a good idea for Bangladesh to participate in this small club of four countries because it will substantially damage the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

“So, we don’t like to see any form of participation by Bangladesh to this small group of countries,” said Ambassador Li.

He termed “Quad” a military alliance aiming against China's resurgence and its relationship with neighbouring countries.

The US, India, Japan and Australia are part of an informal strategic alliance - the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad as it is known.

When Momen was asked to comment on this, he said: “The comment has been an advanced one.”

Also Read - China: Joining Quad will harm Dhaka-Beijing ties

He said usually China does not interfere in others' affairs and they did not see anyone saying anything in such an aggressive way. "It's very regrettable."

"Naturally, he [ambassador] represents a country. They can say what they want. Maybe they don't want it [Bangladesh's joining Quad]," Momen said, adding that no one from the organization that was mentioned did approach Bangladesh yet.

"We’re an independent and sovereign state. We decide our [own] foreign policy. But yes, any country can uphold its position," he told reporters adding that they recall with respect what others say but did not expect such behaviour from China.