French, German foreign ministers arrive today

The French and German foreign ministers are scheduled to arrive together in Dhaka this morning to strengthen ties with Bangladesh and get a first-hand impression on climate change's adverse effects.

Their agendas include inaugurating the Franco-German embassy in Baridhara, the first embassy worldwide jointly built and operated by the two countries.

"The main purpose of the visit is the upcoming UN-climate conference in Paris," a German diplomat told The Daily Star yesterday, adding that it would be a one-day visit.

Dhaka is giving top importance on the trip as the two countries are the top buyers of ready-made garments.

"It is going to be a historic moment," Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said at a press conference on Thursday.

Arriving at 8:00am, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier are scheduled to, if the weather permits, visit a cyclone shelter in Patuakhali and German cooperation projects.

They are to have lunch at the state guesthouse Padma, to be hosted by Mahmood Ali.  In the afternoon, they will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 4:00pm where they will discuss about the climate conference.

After inaugurating the new embassy and meeting the French and German communities, they will hold a press conference and depart at 9:45pm.

Franco-German Embassy

Former French ambassador to Bangladesh Michel Trinquier and former German ambassador Albrecht Conze laid the foundation stone for the new embassy building on January, 2013 marking the celebration of 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty.

The then French president, Charles de Gaulle, and German chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, signed a treaty on January 22, 1963 in Paris to establish a strong partnership. Diplomatic sources at the two embassies said they were expecting to relocate to the new building mid next year.