The Franco-German partnership, which has lasted for 50 years, has expanded beyond the European Union to Bangladesh. The first Franco-German embassy in the world is currently being built in Dhaka. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius will visit Dhaka together on Monday to strengthen the relationship. This visit will occur before the November climate conference in Paris, and they will also participate in the topping-off ceremony of the joint embassy in Baridhara. The German Ambassador in Dhaka, Thomas Prinz, stated to bdnews24.com that the upcoming embassy would be the first worldwide to be jointly constructed and managed by France and Germany. He described the building's external structure as having different colored facade elements that hint at a DNA, symbolizing the strong relationship between the two countries. Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali referred to the visit as "historic" and mentioned that a joint visit like this had never happened before. Ali would be accompanying the two ministers on a trip to the Patuakhali district to observe ongoing projects addressing climate change. The officials from the foreign ministry mentioned that they would participate in 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 attending the topping-off ceremony at the new joint embassy. The German ambassador noted that the idea for this embassy project originated from a 'joint declaration' made during the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty signing in January 2004. The declaration emphasized the decision to construct a joint embassy in order to enhance the diplomatic and consular services network of both countries. The foundation stone for the embassy was laid in 2013 during the 50th anniversary of the Treaty. The Elysée Treaty, serving as a symbol of reconciliation, paved the way for a future of friendship, cooperation, and partnership between France and Germany. Ambassador Prinz emphasized Germany's commitment to the European Union and their belief in the shared values and official motto of "united in diversity" as crucial to their cooperation. The strong Franco-German friendship is seen as essential to a successful European Union. Both countries supported Bangladesh during the 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 international issues such as sustainable development, climate change preparedness, culture, and human rights. The visit is important on a global scale as the German envoy mentioned that challenges are becoming increasingly complex and often require international cooperation. For instance, he emphasized the need for unity in the international community to effectively combat climate change, stating that only through a united effort can a comprehensive and legally binding agreement be reached at the climate conference in Paris in December.