As the 50-year anniversary of the treaty approached, the partnership between France and Germany has expanded beyond the European Union to Bangladesh. Construction of the first joint Franco-German embassy in the world is currently underway in Dhaka. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius are scheduled to visit Dhaka together on Monday to strengthen relations. This visit is planned before the November climate conference in Paris, and they will also participate in the topping-off ceremony of the joint embassy at Baridhara. The German Ambassador in Dhaka, Thomas Prinz, spoke to bdnews24.com on Sunday about the first embassy worldwide that will be jointly built and operated by France and Germany. He mentioned that the building's external structure, with its variously colored facade elements, will resemble a DNA and represent the strong relationship between the two countries. Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali described the upcoming visit as "historic" as it would be the first time such a joint visit has occurred. Ali will also join the ministers on a trip to the Patuakhali district to observe projects addressing climate change. The officials from the foreign ministry confirmed their attendance at a working lunch hosted by Ali at the state guest house Padma, followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban. They planned to depart from Dhaka at night after participating in the topping-off ceremony at the new joint embassy. The German ambassador noted that the embassy project was established in accordance with the 'joint declaration' made during the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Elysée Treaty in January 2004. The joint declaration emphasized the decision to construct a joint embassy to enhance the network of diplomatic and consular services of both countries. The foundation stone for the embassy was laid in 2013 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty. The Elysée Treaty was seen as a symbol of reconciliation that shaped the future of the Franco-German friendship, cooperation, and partnership. Ambassador Prinz emphasized that Germany is a committed member of the European Union, believing in the shared values and principles of unity in diversity. He highlighted the strong bond between France and Germany, which he sees as essential for a successful European Union. Both countries supported Bangladesh during its 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan, with Germany being the largest single-country trading partner for Bangladesh in the EU, providing duty-free market access for all products. France and Germany both collaborate with Bangladesh on a range of global issues, including sustainable development, climate change preparedness, culture, and human rights. The visit is significant on a global scale, as the German ambassador noted that many challenges are becoming increasingly complex and international in nature. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing issues such as climate change, stating that only by uniting as an international community can we effectively tackle this challenge. He highlighted the upcoming climate conference in Paris in December as a crucial opportunity to negotiate a comprehensive and legally binding agreement to combat climate change.