Roundtable Discussion on Multilateral Priorities & Cooperation on 08 August 2022

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a roundtable discussion titled “Multilateral Priorities and Cooperation” on Monday, 8 August 2022, at the BIISS Auditorium.

The discussion hosted Ms. Michele J. Sison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and her delegation. The delegation included Ms. Jane Rhee, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Organization Affairs; Ms. Amrita Banerjee, Multilateral Affairs Officer, Office of Multilateral Strategy and Personnel, Bureau of International Organization Affairs; and Ms. Veena Thangavelu, Political Officer, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. H.E. Peter Haas, Ambassador of the United States to Bangladesh, also accompanied the delegation.

The roundtable featured four presentations by BIISS experts on “Bangladesh’s Aspirations and Roles in the Multilateral System,” “Priorities of Bangladesh,” “Bangladesh’s Development Diplomacy and Emerging Priorities,” and “Bangladesh’s Existing Collaboration in International Fora.” The presentations examined Bangladesh’s expanding role in multilateral diplomacy, its development priorities, contributions to international organisations, and opportunities for strengthening global partnerships in support of sustainable development, peace, and international cooperation.

The presentations were followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants exchanged views on multilateral governance, international development cooperation, peacekeeping, global health, climate change, and Bangladesh’s engagement with the United Nations and other international institutions.

In her remarks, Assistant Secretary Michele J. Sison commended Bangladesh for its remarkable achievements in implementing a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme, ensuring food security, and making significant contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly through the increasing participation of women peacekeepers. She also underscored the importance of continued collaboration between Bangladesh and the United States in promoting effective multilateralism and addressing shared global challenges.

The event brought together policymakers, diplomats, senior government officials, academicians, researchers, and development experts, who highlighted the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to an inclusive, rules-based international order and sustainable global development.