South Korea seeks Bangladesh’s support for top post at WTO

South Korea has sought Bangladesh's support to the Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's bid for the top post of the World Trade Organization.

She made the request during a phone call with her Bangladeshi counterpart, AK Abdul Momen, today afternoon, reports Korean Herald.

Yoo is competing with candidates from Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Britain in the second round of the elimination process, with the final result widely expected to be announced early next month.

The two ministers also discussed other bilateral issues, including cooperation in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic easing of visas for the Bangladeshis working and studying in Korea.

Foreign Minister Momen sought cooperation of his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha to ease the visa process so that the workers and students who came back to Bangladesh at the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic could return to their work and studies.

Detailing the plights of the stranded workers and students, Minister Momen sought support of the Korean Minister to facilitate the return of the stranded Bangladeshi workers and students.

He also invited South Korea to establish a vocational training centre which could train Bangladeshi workers to suit the needs of Korean employers. Minister Kang welcomed the idea and also assured to look into the visa issue.

The foreign minister lauded South Korea's effective containment of the spread of Covid-19 and called for greater cooperation to combat the pandemic.

He also appraised the initiatives taken by Bangladesh to contain coronavirus transmission.

The Korean Foreign Minister also assured of working towards resolving the Rohingya crisis and their early repatriation.