Staff Correspondent

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet has underscored the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation, enhancing student mobility, and deepening academic and cultural engagement between Bangladesh and France.

The Ambassador made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the second phase of the "Meet the Ambassador" series held at the Senate Hall of the University of Rajshahi.

The event was jointly organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh.

University of Rajshahi Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Md. Abdul Alim and FES Bangladesh Resident Representative Dr. Felix Gerdes addressed the opening session, which was moderated by CGS President Zillur Rahman.

In his welcoming address, Dr. Felix Gerdes highlighted FES’s century-long commitment to promoting democracy, civic education, and labor rights internationally, noting that the dialogue series is designed to bridge foreign policy positions with Bangladeshi society.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. Md. Abdul Alim encouraged students to look beyond traditional textbooks, build critical analytical skills, and navigate rapid global changes with curiosity. He expressed optimism that the Ambassador's visit would pave the way for closer academic collaboration and stronger people-to-people relations.

CGS President Zillur Rahman noted that diplomacy ultimately relies on human connections, praising Rajshahi as an historic center of education and culture.

Delivering his keynote speech, Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet emphasized France’s commitment to gender equality through its feminist foreign policy, stressing the critical role of women in diplomacy and governance.

Addressing planetary challenges, the Ambassador asserted that "there is no planet B," calling for robust international cooperation to tackle climate change. He cautioned against polarizing global rhetoric, such as divisions between the global south and the collective west, urging nations instead to focus on shared goals including peace, human rights, and global stability.

During an interactive session moderated by Zillur Rahman, the French envoy addressed a wide range of issues, including bilateral trade, investment, higher education, the Rohingya crisis, and geopolitical dynamics.

Ambassador Séré-Charlet identified global cooperation, green energy investments, and cultural ties as key pillars for future relations.

Acknowledging the trade imbalance and technical barriers facing Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, he stressed the need for closer collaboration on customs facilitation and international standards. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s vast potential in the blue economy, pointing to the need for sustainable investment and enhanced institutional capacity.

On education, the Ambassador encouraged Bangladeshi students to explore academic opportunities in France, citing the country's high-quality institutions and a growing number of English-taught programs. He pointed students to Campus France as a primary resource for guidance on pursuing genuine study opportunities in France.

The event concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session where students and faculty members posed queries concerning food and energy security, global diplomacy, human rights, the UN veto system, and French secularism.