FRANCE President Emmanuel Macron was in Bangladesh today to “consolidate” France’s Asia-Pacific strategy and counterbalance a “new imperialism” in a region where China’s influence was being increasingly extended.

“Based on democratic principles and the rule of law, in a region facing new imperialism, we want to propose a third way – with no intention to bully our partners or to lead them to an unsustainable scheme,” Macron told Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The United States and China were competing for influence in the wider region, and Macron pushed France as offering an alternative.

“Bangladesh is progressively retrieving its place on the world stage,” said Macron, speaking after he arrived in the capital Dhaka yesterday after the G20 leaders summit in neighbouring India.

He praised what he called “the tremendous success” of Bangladesh, a rapidly growing economy and the world’s eighth most populous nation with more than 170 million people.

Macron and Hasina today discussed a “commitment” from the country’s Biman airline to purchase 10 A350s from European aircraft maker Airbus, a potential contract that could be worth up to US$3.2 billion (RM144.4 billion).

Biman previously always bought aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing, and the hope of a purchase from Airbus was “an important point”, Macron told reporters, alongside Hasina.

Macron held talks with Hasina today and visited a memorial to her father, Bangladesh’s first president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“We both hope this new strategic move between Bangladesh and France will play an effective role in establishing regional and global stability and peace,” said Hasina today.

Several Western governments have expressed concern over the political climate in Bangladesh ahead of general elections due before the end of January, where the ruling party dominates the legislature and runs it virtually as a rubber stamp.

Macron’s visit followed a Pacific trip in July to the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as a stopover in Sri Lanka, in which he outlined his “Indo-Pacific strategy” aimed at “recommitting” France to the region.

Yesterday, Macron met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he hosted in Paris in July, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. – AFP, September 11, 2023.