Staff Correspondent: Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman reaffirmed that Bangladesh would work with ASEAN and all parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia for Advancing Cooperation (TAC) in addressing emerging threats. The global resilience against pandemics, climate shocks, cyber incidents and supply chain disruptions could be strengthened through practical, coordinated initiatives such as joint early warning systems, shared risk assessments, and regional crisis response mechanisms.

Foreign Minister made these observations during the commemorative ceremony of the 50th Anniversary of the TAC in Manila today. TAC is an agreement signed five decades ago to set norms to ensure mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference across ASEAN region. Bangladesh acceded TAC in 2007 as one of the first South Asian nations to formalise a treaty-based commitment to ASEAN normative order.

Foreign Minister in his deliberations outlined the way forward to address the emerging threats and challenges, AI induced cybercrimes and misinformation and disinformation of social media.

Dr. Rahman also had bilateral meetings today with the Foreign Ministers of Chile, Netherlands and Philippines and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar on the margin of TAC Conference. During the bilateral meetings, diverse issues including trade and investment, energy supply, water resource management, legal migration, circular economy were discussed.

Mentionable, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is visiting Manila to attend the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting and the commemorative activities of the 50th Anniversary of Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.