Bangladesh pursues a forward-looking foreign policy based on friendship with all and malice towards none. As an active member of the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OIC, the Commonwealth and numerous international organizations, Bangladesh actively promotes global peace, stability, co-operation and development.
The foreign policy of Bangladesh forms an integral part of its overall national policy. A fundamental objective is revitalizing friendly relations with all countries and the consolidation of our image abroad as a responsible, politically stable, moderate, democratic and contributing member of the world community.
Its unwavering policy is to maintain close and friendly relations with the neighbours on the basis of equality, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs and the settlement of outstanding bilateral issues through dialogue and negotiation. ln the region a priority objective is to revive the momentum and credibility of SAARC. Bangladesh firmly believes in the future of SAARC and its South Asian identity. The economic reforms and market liberalisation in the country as well as in the rest of South Asia have brought greater possibilities for closer interaction with the world. Its huge emerging market, its large capable middle class with good entrepreneurial, technological and scientific skills have opened the way for extensive economic and commercial opportunities. SAARC continues to retain very positive potentials for economic cooperation and as a basic harmonising force for security and confidence building in the region.
In the international arena also Bangladesh believes in a proactive role for maintaining peace and stability. Bangladesh greatly values its cooperation with other countries in international affairs. It has the distinction of having provided the largest number of peace-keepers working under the UN. Bangladesh feels that the importance of economic diplomacy cannot be overemphasised. The essential thrust of the country’s economic diplomacy must be to project the image of the country which offers excellent investment opportunities and that the overall investment climate is conducive to foreign investment. For developing countries such as Bangladesh, economic diplomacy also means playing an active, sometimes leadership role in multilateral agencies and conferences.