Dhaka, Sept. 22 -- France Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet on Tuesday said France aims to help its partners in South Asia, such as Bangladesh, achieve their own strategic autonomy, so that they are not forced to choose between Washington and Beijing.

"Faced with the growing rivalry between the United States and China, France is positioning itself as a balancing power, leveraging its status as an Indian Ocean nation," he said.

Ambassador Sere-Charlet said France's diplomatic and strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in its relationship with Bangladesh, are centered around promoting a multilateral "third way."

Speaking at the "DCAB Talk", he said promoting a "third way" in the face of hegemonic power...