The German embassy stated that the new German ambassador, Holger Michael, met with President Zillur Rahman in Dhaka on Wednesday. The ambassador conveyed friendly greetings from the German president to the people of Bangladesh. In a letter of credence, German President Horst Kohler emphasized the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Germany and Bangladesh. Ambassador Michael also praised Bangladesh's progress in combating poverty, while acknowledging the country's significant challenges, including climate change. He stated that Germany remains a significant development partner for Bangladesh and expressed optimism about growing trade and investment between the two countries. He emphasized the potential for increased trade and investment in both directions and reiterated their commitment to expanding trade relations. The ambassador affirmed Germany's support for efforts to enhance democracy and human rights in Bangladesh and commended Bangladesh's positive role in international politics. Michael expressed Germany's support for Bangladesh's initiatives in promoting regional cooperation and stability in South Asia, as well as its involvement in UN peacekeeping operations and leadership role among the Least Developed Countries. Before serving in Dhaka, Michael held the position of head of Trade Promotion at the Federal Foreign Office and also served as deputy head of mission in Bangkok and Hong Kong. Additionally, he has been assigned to various countries including Korea, Nicaragua, and Turkey.