DHAKA: Bangladesh and Russia are working to further strengthen bilateral political dialogue, including the one at the highest level, reports news agency UNB.
Foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali, now in Moscow on a two-day visit, is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov today (Thursday).
During their talks, the ministers will discuss the current state and prospects for bilateral relations and exchange opinions on current international and regional issues, including the fight against terrorism, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The last time they met was on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session in New York on 22 September, 2016.
The minister’s visit also marks the 45 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Bangladesh.
The ties that developed between them since then are noted for equality, respect for each other’s interests and a high level of mutual trust, said the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The development of all aspects of bilateral relations was ‘boosted’ by the official visit to Moscow by Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin in January 2013.
The agreements they reached bolstered bilateral relations in the main areas of Russian-Bangladeshi cooperation, including in the power industry and military technical cooperation.
Mutual resolve to strengthen partnership in various areas was reaffirmed during a meeting between prime minister Dmitry Medvedev and Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the 11th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM11) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in July 2016.
Trade and economic cooperation is growing ever stronger. In 2016, bilateral trade amounted to $1.44 billion, which nearly equals the record high figure for 2015.
Of the total Russian exports to Bangladesh, which equalled $767.2 million, machinery and equipment accounted for 42 percent or $322.2 million, while agricultural products equalled 39.1 percent ($300.2 million). Bangladesh is a major importer of Russian wheat.
The task of strengthening bilateral cooperation has been assigned to the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation. The agreement on its establishment became effective on 1 March, 2017.
The main joint project in the power industry provides for the construction of the first Bangladeshi nuclear power station, Rooppur.
Its implementation will help modernise and upgrade the country’s power infrastructure. Russia’s involvement will provide jobs for over 100 Russian companies and additional tax revenues for the budget, said the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Bangladesh is also interested in the Russian expertise in the field of natural gas production.
In November 2014, Gazprom EP International BV completed the implementation of its obligations under the 2012 contract for drilling 10 wells at gas fields in Bangladesh.
In September 2015, the parties signed new contracts for drilling five more wells, which were implemented in November 2016.
The foundation has been created for developing cooperation in culture and education. As of now, 219 Bangladeshi students are studying at Russian universities, 155 of them on federal budget scholarships.
