Today, Bangladesh and South Korea held the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Seoul. Photo: MoFA

DHAKA, Aug 26, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh and South Korea today agreed to deepen political trust, expand economic cooperation and explore the prospect of elevating relations to a strategic partnership, as the two countries held the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Seoul.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by foreign ministry's Secretary (Bilateral-East and West) Ambassador Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam while the Korean side was headed by first Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoonjoo, said a foreign ministry's press release here. 

During the consultation, both sides discussed issues included political and economic cooperation, trade and investment, human resource development under the Employment Permit System (EPS), infrastructure development, relocation of Korean electronics and semiconductor plants, energy cooperation and the situation of forcibly displaced Myanmar's nationals Rohingyas.

Dhaka and Seoul also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern and agreed on the importance of enhanced cooperation on multilateral platforms.

The meeting reviewed progress since the last FOC in March 2022 and identified new avenues of collaboration, particularly in science and technology, artificial intelligence, energy transition, fisheries, biotechnology, climate change and shipbuilding.

Bangladesh stressed the importance of Korean support for its high-quality infrastructure projects through EDCF, KOICA, and EDPF grants and loans.
 
Dhaka also encouraged Korean firms to relocate manufacturing plants and production facilities to Bangladesh to strengthen industrial value chains and contribute to sustainable development in South Asia.

The Korean side, in turn, commended Bangladesh's humanitarian role in hosting over a million Rohingyas and reiterated its support for their safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.

Both delegations emphasized the need for high-level visits at a mutually convenient time to further strengthen bilateral relations and elevate them to a strategic partnership.

The consultations concluded with a shared vision to maximize resources and complementarities for the mutual development of both peoples.