The German president on closer cooperation with Bangladesh, and what is going wrong in Europe.
German President Christian Wulff wrapped up a three-day visit to Bangladesh this week. Wulff was the first German president to visit Dhaka in 25 years. His visit also took place at the heel of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to Berlin in late September that unveiled a new vista of bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany.
“I am a great admirer of Bengali culture and its tradition of tolerance and humanism. I think we could learn a lot from thinkers such as Rabindranath Tagore. We should work together more, especially on intercultural dialogue and dialogue between the religions,” Wulff said.
In a pre-arrival interview with Dhaka Courier from Berlin, the German president said as a constitutionally secular country, Bangladesh is a key partner for his country.
He observed: “Protecting freedom of religion is a common concern for us both. Without greater respect for each other and better knowledge of each other, we will not be able to solve the problems that will confront us all in the future.”
Wulff hopes that his visit will contribute to intensifying cooperation between the two countries and deepening dialogue on key issues for the future.
“I attach great importance to further developing our bilateral relations in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres,” the Christian Democratic Union politician said.
“Bangladesh is a key partner for Germany when it comes to tackling global challenges, including the question of how we can together contribute to improved understanding across cultural and religious boundaries,” he went on. “That is why I decided to visit Bangladesh after only a year-and-a-half in office.”
Dhaka Courier: Bangladesh is still striving to advance the socio-economic condition of its people and give democracy an institutional shape. How can Germany help?
Christian Wulff: We very much welcomed Bangladesh’s return to democracy in the year 2008. Almost 90 percent of those registered cast their votes in the last elections. That’s an impressive figure. The challenge now is to live up to the great expectations of the overwhelmingly young population.
A constructive dialogue between the various political groupings, good governance and steps to combat corruption will be very important in this regard. We are ready and willing to share our experiences of building rule-of-law institutions with you. In my opinion, closer cooperation between our parliaments and civil societies could prove particularly rewarding.
DC: We know Germany and Bangladesh are traditionally bound by a very friendly and cordial relationship. How do you foresee this bilateral relationship advancing further in the near future?
CW: Bangladesh is an important partner for Germany when it comes to shaping our common future. One issue that comes to mind is enhancing our cooperation on mitigating the impact of climate change, an area in which Bangladesh plays a very important and constructive role. I think that our future relations will be particularly influenced by the intensified exchange between young people from Germany and Bangladesh. Scholarship and exchange programmes will help us get to know each other even better and enable us to develop joint solutions for the future.
DC: How is the German economy faring during the current euro zone crisis? What needs to be done to overcome the debt and banking crises in Europe and worldwide?
CW: Germany has the largest economy in Europe. It has strong international ties and is highly competitive. We have our industrial and technological strengths, but our economy is by no means isolated from and immune to developments in Europe and around the world.
The present crisis in Europe is both a banking crisis and a debt crisis. As regards the financial sector, I believe that the liberalisation and deregulation of the past went too far. We must push ahead with the G20’s work on a clear global regulatory framework for the financial markets. I am also firmly convinced that we in Europe and in numerous other economies around the world will not escape the crisis without turning our backs on the debt-based policies of the past. We need a global change of course, towards sustainable management and budgeting.
DC: Are there any plans to increase Germany’s investments in Bangladesh? How can Bangladeshi exports to Germany?
CW: I think there are good medium- and long-term opportunities for strong and vibrant economic relations between Bangladesh and Germany. Many countries, including less economically developed nations, are profiting from the increased flows of trade and investment wrought by globalisation. German investors rightly attach considerable importance to a healthy investment climate, political stability and a transparent and reliable administrative and legal framework. It is just as important to realise that success on the global markets can only be lasting if environmental and social standards are complied with.
But, bearing these provisos in mind, things are currently looking very good. The decades of cooperation between Germany and Bangladesh are starting to bear fruit. Trade between our two countries is growing fast. Bangladesh is a country with a young population and solid growth rates. The country is eager to seek its fortune on the world markets and to follow the example of other Asian successes.
We will, I am sure, be able to identify and tap many more areas with great potential; the need for investment in infrastructure and urban development is considerable. Bangladesh is also looking for ways to secure a safe and environmentally-friendly supply of energy. This is an area in which there are many options for cooperation with Germany, in view of the action that needs to be taken globally to combat unremitting climate change.
DC: As one of the world’s top engineering countries, how can Germany help Bangladesh embrace technological advancement? Does Germany have any plans to further expand technical support and training to Bangladeshis?
CW: Over the past years Bangladesh’s economic growth has been impressive, above all in the textile sector. German firms are very satisfied with their ventures in Bangladesh and have a lot to offer the country. In particular, they can assist with basic and further training, and help Bangladeshi companies comply with social and environmental standards to which consumers attach special importance.
German President Christian Wulff wrapped up a three-day visit to Bangladesh this week. Wulff was the first German president to visit Dhaka in 25 years. His visit also took place at the heel of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to Berlin in late September that unveiled a new vista of bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany.
“I am a great admirer of Bengali culture and its tradition of tolerance and humanism. I think we could learn a lot from thinkers such as Rabindranath Tagore. We should work together more, especially on intercultural dialogue and dialogue between the religions,” Wulff said.
In a pre-arrival interview with Dhaka Courier from Berlin, the German president said as a constitutionally secular country, Bangladesh is a key partner for his country.
He observed: “Protecting freedom of religion is a common concern for us both. Without greater respect for each other and better knowledge of each other, we will not be able to solve the problems that will confront us all in the future.”
Wulff hopes that his visit will contribute to intensifying cooperation between the two countries and deepening dialogue on key issues for the future.
“I attach great importance to further developing our bilateral relations in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres,” the Christian Democratic Union politician said.
“Bangladesh is a key partner for Germany when it comes to tackling global challenges, including the question of how we can together contribute to improved understanding across cultural and religious boundaries,” he went on. “That is why I decided to visit Bangladesh after only a year-and-a-half in office.”
Dhaka Courier: Bangladesh is still striving to advance the socio-economic condition of its people and give democracy an institutional shape. How can Germany help?
Christian Wulff: We very much welcomed Bangladesh’s return to democracy in the year 2008. Almost 90 percent of those registered cast their votes in the last elections. That’s an impressive figure. The challenge now is to live up to the great expectations of the overwhelmingly young population.
A constructive dialogue between the various political groupings, good governance and steps to combat corruption will be very important in this regard. We are ready and willing to share our experiences of building rule-of-law institutions with you. In my opinion, closer cooperation between our parliaments and civil societies could prove particularly rewarding.
DC: We know Germany and Bangladesh are traditionally bound by a very friendly and cordial relationship. How do you foresee this bilateral relationship advancing further in the near future?
CW: Bangladesh is an important partner for Germany when it comes to shaping our common future. One issue that comes to mind is enhancing our cooperation on mitigating the impact of climate change, an area in which Bangladesh plays a very important and constructive role. I think that our future relations will be particularly influenced by the intensified exchange between young people from Germany and Bangladesh. Scholarship and exchange programmes will help us get to know each other even better and enable us to develop joint solutions for the future.
DC: How is the German economy faring during the current euro zone crisis? What needs to be done to overcome the debt and banking crises in Europe and worldwide?
CW: Germany has the largest economy in Europe. It has strong international ties and is highly competitive. We have our industrial and technological strengths, but our economy is by no means isolated from and immune to developments in Europe and around the world.
The present crisis in Europe is both a banking crisis and a debt crisis. As regards the financial sector, I believe that the liberalisation and deregulation of the past went too far. We must push ahead with the G20’s work on a clear global regulatory framework for the financial markets. I am also firmly convinced that we in Europe and in numerous other economies around the world will not escape the crisis without turning our backs on the debt-based policies of the past. We need a global change of course, towards sustainable management and budgeting.
DC: Are there any plans to increase Germany’s investments in Bangladesh? How can Bangladeshi exports to Germany?
CW: I think there are good medium- and long-term opportunities for strong and vibrant economic relations between Bangladesh and Germany. Many countries, including less economically developed nations, are profiting from the increased flows of trade and investment wrought by globalisation. German investors rightly attach considerable importance to a healthy investment climate, political stability and a transparent and reliable administrative and legal framework. It is just as important to realise that success on the global markets can only be lasting if environmental and social standards are complied with.
But, bearing these provisos in mind, things are currently looking very good. The decades of cooperation between Germany and Bangladesh are starting to bear fruit. Trade between our two countries is growing fast. Bangladesh is a country with a young population and solid growth rates. The country is eager to seek its fortune on the world markets and to follow the example of other Asian successes.
We will, I am sure, be able to identify and tap many more areas with great potential; the need for investment in infrastructure and urban development is considerable. Bangladesh is also looking for ways to secure a safe and environmentally-friendly supply of energy. This is an area in which there are many options for cooperation with Germany, in view of the action that needs to be taken globally to combat unremitting climate change.
DC: As one of the world’s top engineering countries, how can Germany help Bangladesh embrace technological advancement? Does Germany have any plans to further expand technical support and training to Bangladeshis?
CW: Over the past years Bangladesh’s economic growth has been impressive, above all in the textile sector. German firms are very satisfied with their ventures in Bangladesh and have a lot to offer the country. In particular, they can assist with basic and further training, and help Bangladeshi companies comply with social and environmental standards to which consumers attach special importance.
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