Trade, educational, cultural issues to figure high in talks
Monday, 3 September 2007
Bilateral cooperation in trade and economic as well as in cultural and educational fields will feature prominently during Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury's official talks with his Russian counterpart in Moscow, reports UNB.
Iftekhar left the city for Moscow Saturday night on a three-day official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
A spokesman for Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin in an interview with RIA Novosti said present scale of trade and economic ties between Russia and Bangladesh so far do not correspond to the potential available, although they have already amassed experience in mutual advantageous cooperation, in particular in energy sector.
He said the power plants built with Russian aid generate one-third of Bangladesh's electricity output. Talks are underway on continuing cooperation in this area.
The spokesman said expanding contacts between business circles of the two countries is on the agenda, particularly under the auspices of the chambers of commerce and industry.
A bilateral Consular Convention is expected to be signed during the visit, he said.
Kamynin said the Russian Federation and Bangladesh are bound by relations of traditional friendship and maintain a regular political dialogue and interact constructively on the international scene, primarily in the UN, OIC, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on security, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and other organisations.
Bangladesh is Russia's important partner in South Asia.
The spokesman said Russia regards the Foreign Adviser's visit to Moscow as "a significant stage" in bilateral relations and as evidence of the sides' striving to intensify their constructive dialogue on all issues of mutual concern. Since 1991 this is the first arrival in Russia of a head of the foreign ministry of Bangladesh.
Replying to a question, Kamynin said interaction between Moscow and Dhaka on regional and international problems, particularly within the framework of the UNGA 62nd session, will be a subject of in-depth discussion between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Iftekhar.
"Our countries are for the central role of the UN and its Security Council in maintaining peace and combining efforts by the world community in the struggle against international terrorism," he noted.
Besides, he said issue of strengthening cooperation in the fight against international terrorism would also figure in the talks.
The spokesman said Russia welcomes the ratification by Bangladesh of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and calls on the Bangladeshi partners to accede to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, promoted by Russia and the US.
Kamynin said Russia is keen on deepening mutual understanding and expanding cooperation with the Islamic world, in particular in the framework of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, of which Bangladesh is a member.
He said Russia welcomes the active participation of Bangladeshi representatives in the activities of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group.
Iftekhar left the city for Moscow Saturday night on a three-day official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
A spokesman for Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin in an interview with RIA Novosti said present scale of trade and economic ties between Russia and Bangladesh so far do not correspond to the potential available, although they have already amassed experience in mutual advantageous cooperation, in particular in energy sector.
He said the power plants built with Russian aid generate one-third of Bangladesh's electricity output. Talks are underway on continuing cooperation in this area.
The spokesman said expanding contacts between business circles of the two countries is on the agenda, particularly under the auspices of the chambers of commerce and industry.
A bilateral Consular Convention is expected to be signed during the visit, he said.
Kamynin said the Russian Federation and Bangladesh are bound by relations of traditional friendship and maintain a regular political dialogue and interact constructively on the international scene, primarily in the UN, OIC, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on security, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and other organisations.
Bangladesh is Russia's important partner in South Asia.
The spokesman said Russia regards the Foreign Adviser's visit to Moscow as "a significant stage" in bilateral relations and as evidence of the sides' striving to intensify their constructive dialogue on all issues of mutual concern. Since 1991 this is the first arrival in Russia of a head of the foreign ministry of Bangladesh.
Replying to a question, Kamynin said interaction between Moscow and Dhaka on regional and international problems, particularly within the framework of the UNGA 62nd session, will be a subject of in-depth discussion between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Iftekhar.
"Our countries are for the central role of the UN and its Security Council in maintaining peace and combining efforts by the world community in the struggle against international terrorism," he noted.
Besides, he said issue of strengthening cooperation in the fight against international terrorism would also figure in the talks.
The spokesman said Russia welcomes the ratification by Bangladesh of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and calls on the Bangladeshi partners to accede to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, promoted by Russia and the US.
Kamynin said Russia is keen on deepening mutual understanding and expanding cooperation with the Islamic world, in particular in the framework of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, of which Bangladesh is a member.
He said Russia welcomes the active participation of Bangladeshi representatives in the activities of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group.