[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 42 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Pages 2514-2516]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
 Joint Statement With Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh

 October 19, 2000

     Today, in their first meeting since President Clinton's historic 
trip to Bangladesh in March, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President 
Clinton renewed and strengthened the excellent ties enjoyed by our two 
democracies and expressed their conviction that U.S.-Bangladeshi 
relations should deepen and broaden in the years ahead. The two leaders 
also expressed satisfaction with continuing constructive consultations 
between government officials of both countries.
     The United States and Bangladesh are two of the world's most 
populous democracies. In keeping with the commitment to democracy our 
two nations enthusiastically endorsed in Warsaw in June 2000, Bangladesh 
and the United States expressed their common commitment to the free and 
fair conduct of elections, strengthening democratic institutions and the 
rule of law. The President appreciated the Prime Minister's reiteration 
of her commitment to strengthening democracy and democratic institutions 
and the expression of her determination to further encourage efforts for 
independent election monitoring, particularly for national elections 
under a caretaker government.
     The President expressed satisfaction and appreciation for 
Bangladesh's role in fostering international peace and cooperation, as 
well as the Prime Minister's efforts to reduce tensions in the South 
Asian region. The two leaders agreed it is essential for the United 
States and Bangladesh to coordinate positions on major issues that come 
before the United Nations Security Council and other international fora. 
Regarding the Middle East, the two leaders lauded the call, made at 
Sharm el-Sheikh, for an end to violence and resumed efforts toward 
peace. The President also praised Bangladesh's significant commitment to 
international peacekeeping. The Prime Minister assured the President 
that Bangladesh will maintain this commitment and will actively support 
a United Nations Scale of Assessment reform that will place that 
organization on a solid financial footing. The two leaders discussed 
their mutual interest in promoting greater cooperation in regional fora, 
such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). 
The President pointed to the settlement of the Chittagong Hill Tracts 
conflict and the Ganges Water Sharing Agreement as excellent examples of 
peacemaking and dispute resolution in the region.
     The President expressed satisfaction that Bangladesh was the first 
country in South Asia to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and 
reaffirmed the American intention to work for ratification of the Treaty 
at its earliest possible date. Both leaders welcomed the work of the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization's Preparatory Organization in 
establishing a seismic auxiliary station in Chittagong. They welcomed 
the extension of our bilateral Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy 
Agreement. The Prime Minister expressed Bangladesh's interest in 
participating in the United States' program to dispose of spent fuel.
     The Prime Minister and President noted with satisfaction the 
significant improvement in U.S.-Bangladesh economic relations over the 
last several years, in which continuing development assistance has been 
accompanied by a rapid increase of American investment and an increase 
in bilateral trade. The President praised the rise of Bangladesh as a 
partner in development, a supporter of private/public partnerships, and 
a participant in the world economy. The leaders emphasized the positive 
effect the implementation of investor-friendly policies has on 
attracting foreign investment. The Prime Minister and President welcomed 
progress on the conclusion of negotiations on gas production and 
exploration in east-central Bangladesh. Given the

[[Page 2515]]

 important role that natural gas can play in Bangladesh's development, 
the two leaders applauded the work of Petrobangla and the United States 
Geological Survey in estimating Bangladesh's gas resources. The Prime 
Minister stated that these resources will be used to accelerate 
Bangladesh's economic development and improve the lives of its people.
     The Prime Minister stressed that the garment sector has been an 
engine of growth in Bangladesh, providing employment to nearly two 
million women. Considering the importance of the textile sector in the 
economy of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister asked the President to provide 
more preferential access to Bangladeshi exports to the United States.
     The two leaders shared their common commitment to continuing 
liberalization of international trade within the context of the World 
Trade Organization. Noting that the efficiency of Bangladesh's port 
facilities is a critical factor in enhancing Bangladesh's opportunities 
in world trade, the two leaders welcomed progress in negotiations for 
building a new container port terminal and expressed the hope that an 
agreement could be signed at an early date.
     The two leaders discussed Bangladesh's potential in the field of 
information technology and the President invited Bangladesh to 
participate as a partner country in the Internet for Economic 
Development (IED) Initiative. They pledged to work for the early 
conclusion of a tax treaty between Bangladesh and the United States. 
Finally, the two leaders agreed to take steps to liberalize air 
services.
     The President voiced his strong support for actions already 
underway in Bangladesh to improve the lives of the working poor, 
especially women. The Prime Minister and President expressed their joint 
commitment to promote internationally recognized labor rights and 
improve working conditions. They noted with satisfaction the work of the 
International Labor Organization in Bangladesh, supported by the United 
States Department of Labor. They recognized the pioneering role played 
by Bangladesh in efforts to eliminate child labor in the garment 
industry. They agreed on the global need to fight child labor and 
trafficking in women and children and expressed confidence in new 
international and United States programs that will address this issue in 
South Asia. The President applauded the Prime Minister's commitment to 
conclude the process of ratification of ILO convention 182 this year. 
The President encouraged the Prime Minister to establish 
internationally-recognized labor rights in its export processing zones, 
and affirmed the American commitment to assist in this process.
     The United States and Bangladesh agreed to cooperate closely in the 
fight against international crime, narcotics trafficking and terrorism. 
The two leaders agreed to build on law enforcement cooperation with 
further training and consultation, particularly in combating crimes of 
violence against women. They recognized the need for improvements in 
Bangladesh's police force and prisons and agreed to explore ways in 
which police professionalism and prison conditions could be improved.
     The President and Prime Minister noted with satisfaction that 
progress has been made toward the negotiation of an extradition treaty 
and agreed to facilitate an early conclusion of work on it.
     On the environment, the leaders welcome the establishment of a 
Tropical Forest Conservation Fund, the first of its kind in the world, 
to enable bilateral debt relief to be used to preserve unique ecosystems 
and protect the global environment.
     They welcomed the signing of an agreement to enable Bangladesh to 
participate in the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the 
Environment (GLOBE) initiative.
     They welcomed the Clean Energy Agreement signed by representatives 
of the two governments.
     The two leaders expressed concern at the serious danger posed by 
arsenic contamination to the people of Bangladesh and noted the United 
States Geological Survey's work on the arsenic groundwater problem in 
Bangladesh, and the grants of the Trade and Development Agency and the 
National Science Foundation to conduct research in this area.

[[Page 2516]]

     The two leaders encouraged cooperation between Bangladesh business 
people and investors and their American counterparts. The leaders 
remarked on the success of the newly reestablished Peace Corps program 
in Bangladesh and agreed to explore how this program could be expanded. 
The Prime Minister noted the interest of Bangladesh students in 
expanding opportunities for higher education in the United States. The 
Prime Minister and the President paid tribute to the contributions of 
Bangladesh immigrants to the United States in improving our commercial 
ties and cultural exchanges. Bangladesh traditions, heritage, and 
talents are a rich contribution to American life, further enhancing the 
growing relationship between our two societies.

  Note:  An original was not available for verification of the content 
of this joint statement.