Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The invitation was formally conveyed during a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Saudi Ambassador at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.
During the meeting, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Jafar H. Bin Abiah handed over the invitation letter from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
In response, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman extended an invitation to the Saudi Crown Prince to visit Bangladesh.
Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir disclosed the development at an emergency press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said the schedule for the Prime Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia would be finalized through discussions between the two governments.
According to him, the two sides also discussed various issues of mutual interest and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Describing Saudi Arabia as a long-standing friend of Bangladesh, Humayun Kabir said the Kingdom is keen to expand trade and investment with Bangladesh.
Also present at the meeting were Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, and Deputy Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Ibrahim Abdullah.
Meanwhile, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to participate in the third edition of the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium, in June next year and deliver a keynote address.
European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller handed over the invitation to Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
The ambassador also delivered a letter from EU Vice-President Kaja Kallas congratulating the foreign minister on his election as President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the forum, building on the success of its 2023 and 2025 editions, will bring together heads of state and government, ministers, financial institutions, international organisations, private sector leaders and civil society representatives to advance sustainable and trusted partnerships worldwide.
The visit is also expected to provide an opportunity for a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Ursula von der Leyen.
The ministry said the prime minister's participation in the forum is expected to create opportunities for greater investment in sustainable infrastructure, digitalisation, energy, transport, health and education under the EU's Global Gateway Initiative.
The Global Gateway Forum serves as a high-level platform for global leaders and stakeholders to strengthen international partnerships and advance the objectives of the EU's Global Gateway Strategy.
