Foreign adviser leaves for Russia as Dhaka, Moscow rejuvenate their ties

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Adviser for Foreign Affairs Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury left for Russia Saturday night on a three-day visit. The visit is in response to an invitation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as Dhaka and Moscow would like to set their ties in a new parameter in the changed times.
The foreign adviser will hold formal bilateral talks with his counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, during his visit, reports UNB.
He will also call on Prime Minister-in-Charge (Deputy Prime Minister) SE Naryshkin and Governor of St Petersburg Valentina Matvienko.
He will hold meetings with acting Industry and Energy Minister IS Materov.
He will also sign a consular convention as a part of the brushing up of the ties to the mutual benefit.
"Russia can be a vast market for our manufacturers. It is a very important source of food-grain, fertiliser and energy. The intellectual and cultural connections between our two peoples go back centuries and there is a great possibility of converting these linkages to mutual economic and political benefits", Chowdhury said prior to his departure.
Since the Russian Federation emerged from the old Soviet Union, there has not been a visit there from Bangladesh at such a high level.
Today Russia is fast evolving as a power in political and economic arena and is once again poised to play a key role.
The visit is primarily aimed at reinvigorating a relationship that has remained on the backburner so long, sources said.