French, German foreign ministers in Dhaka

The foreign ministers of France and Germany arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit today to show solidarity with Bangladesh, which is heavily threatened by climate change.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali received his French and German counterparts - Laurent Fabius and Frank-Walter Steinmeier respectively - after a special flight carrying them landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:05am.

The visiting ministers accompanied by Mahmood Ali went to Savar and took a boat to witness the effects of climate change on the riverbanks near Dhaka, according to a post of German embassy in Dhaka.

However, they were scheduled to visit various project sites in Patuakhali today but bad weather forced them to cancel the programme.

They will inaugurate the France-Germany (Franco-German) joint embassy in Dhaka during their visit.

The Franco-German embassy in Dhaka is the first among others being constructed in the world. The foundation stone was laid on January 22, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty that confirms the rapprochement between the two countries.

The common aim of building the embassy is to display the theme of duality and unity in a single building.