Bangladesh Foreign Minister calls on Vice President, Union Ministers in Delhi
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen called on Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday during his three day official visit to India. During the call-on Vice President Naidu lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her zero-tolerance policy against terrorism that ensured peace and security in the entire South-Asian region, especially to the north-east region of India. He expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relation between India and Bangladesh. He said that Bangladesh occupies a special place in the foreign policy outlook of India as both countries are linked by shared history, culture, tradition, language and common values.
Foreign Minister Dr. Momen noted that Bangladesh considers India as the closest neighbour. He said both the countries are working together closely for sectoral cooperation in the areas like common rivers and water resources management, IT and cyber security, renewable energy, agriculture and food security.
Foreign Minister also met the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The two Ministers discussed the existing collaboration of both the countries in the areas of energy cooperation namely- nuclear energy, renewables like solar and wind, LNG, LPG, diesel etc. Both the Ministers stressed on the need to ensure energy security and energy cooperation in the sub-region. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri proposed to hold regular meetings and dialogues for further solidifying the existing collaboration and exploring new areas of cooperation in the energy sector.
Earlier on Sunday, Dr. Momen met the Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal. Foreign Minister Dr. Momen stated that Indian business houses can take advantage of investing in Bangladesh particularly in the SEZ dedicated for the Indian investors in Mongla and Mirsharai. They agreed to further deepen collaboration in trade, commerce and investment for mutual benefit.
Dr. Momen is returning back to Dhaka in the evening on Monday after concluding his three day visit to India during which he co-chaired the seventh round of Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting with Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar.