Dhaka, Sept. 22 -- France is advocating a "third way" amid growing rivalry between the United States and China and wants to help its South Asian partners, including Bangladesh, build their own strategic autonomy, France's Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters here, Sere-Charlet said France and Europe are seeking to position themselves as a balancing power in the Indo-Pacific, drawing on France's status as an Indian Ocean nation.

"Democratic and strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in its relations with Bangladesh, are centred around promoting a multilateral third way. Faced with a growing rivalry between the United States and China, France is positioning itself, lik...