Visiting French special envoy Pascal Lamy on Sunday expressed optimism that Bangladesh will support France to host the World Expo-2025 considering vibrant relations between the two countries.
"France and Bangladesh are well-aligned," Lamy, also former Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), told reporters at the France-German Embassy here in the afternoon.
He, however, said it is the decision of Bangladesh to be taken considering political, economic and other issues.
Lamy said the European Union will remain the largest market for Bangladesh which might come into consideration apart from cooperation in the areas of technology and others.
Responding to a question, the French envoy said the international community needs to exert more pressure on Myanmar to find a solution to the Rohingya crisis.
He laid emphasis on repatriation of Rohingyas and reiterated support to Bangladesh.
Earlier, Lamy sought the support when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office on Sunday morning.
As France government wants to host the World Expo-2025, Pascal Lamy requested Bangladesh to extend its support to this end.
In response to Lamy's request, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will consider it.
Lamy explained France's vision behind candidacy for the World Expo 2025. Four countries -- France (in Greater Paris), Japan (in Osaka), the Russian Federation (in Ekaterinburg), and Azerbaijan (in Baku) -- are candidates to host the World Expo 2025.
The bid was submitted on September 28 to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organisation in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos.
The 170 member states of BIE will elect the host country at the 164th General Assembly in November 2018.
The theme chosen for this expo is 'Knowledge sharing and protection of the planet," which reflects the priorities of the international action to protect the planet, while 2025 will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement.
France had hosted five major world exhibitions in the 19th century, and hosted an international exhibition on modern art and technology in 1937.
France thinks the World Expo is also an opportunity for French citizens and the country to redesign their openness to the world and French adherence to the universal values.
UNB/LY
