Bangladesh has expressed its strong willingness to become ASEAN's Sectoral Dialogue Partner, said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen during a discussion with the ASEAN countries' heads of missions in Dhaka today.

At the virtual event using the Bangladeshi App Boithok, developed by the ICT Ministry of Bangladesh, Momen said Bangladesh highly values its relations with the South East Asian countries.

He sought support from the ASEAN countries to Bangladesh's application for becoming a Sectoral Dialogue Partner. The Foreign Secretary also shortly briefed on the Bangladesh's COVID-19 management and the current scenario.

ASEAN ambassadors informed that Bangladesh's application to become ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue partner is under positive consideration at their capitals. They assured full support to Bangladesh's bid.

Foreign Secretary reiterated that Bangladesh is keen to expand its ties with the ASEAN countries both in depth and dimension encompassing areas such as trade, investment, physical connectivity, people to people contacts, defense cooperation, academia and track-2 diplomacy.

Foreign Ministry Secretaries Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams (East) and Ambassador Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury (West) and directors generals of Myanmar and South East Asia wings also attended the Boithok meeting.