The German embassy announced that the new German ambassador, Holger Michael, had a meeting with President Zillur Rahman on Wednesday. In a statement, the ambassador delivered warm regards from the German president to the people of Bangladesh. Horst Kohler, the German president, expressed in a letter of credence that Germany and Bangladesh have a strong history of friendship and collaboration. Michael praised Bangladesh for its progress in combating poverty, while also acknowledging the country's challenges, including climate change. He mentioned that Germany remains a significant development partner of Bangladesh and expressed optimism about enhancing trade and investment between the two countries. He emphasized the potential for increased trade and investment in both directions and expressed a commitment to further developing trade relations. The envoy also stated that Germany is dedicated to supporting initiatives aimed at reinforcing democracy and human rights in Bangladesh. He commended Bangladesh for its positive contributions to international politics. Michael stated that Germany backs Bangladesh's initiatives to enhance regional cooperation and stability in South Asia, its involvement in UN peacekeeping missions, and its leadership role among the Least Developed Countries group. Before working in Dhaka, Michael held the position of head of Trade Promotion at the Federal Foreign Office and served as deputy head of mission in Bangkok and Hong Kong. He also had assignments in Korea, Nicaragua, and Turkey.