(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart
Sheikh Hasina held an extensive discussion on a range of bilateral
issues as they decided to start negotiations on a comprehensive
economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to sustain momentum in the
bilateral ties.
India and Bangladesh today signed seven Memorandum of
Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of PM Modi and visiting prime
minister Sheikh Hasina. These agreements were signed after
delegation-level talks were held at the Hyderabad House.
Speaking at a special briefing here, Indian foreign secretary
Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said both leaders agreed to build resilient
supply chains in both countries and across the region.
“India is the largest market for Bangladeshi products in Asia.
“And despite the pandemic, the bilateral trade between the two
countries reached an all-time high of USD 18 billion in the last
financial years,” he added.
“To sustain this momentum, both leaders have directed the
concerned ministries to commence negotiations on a bilateral
comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) this year in
2022 and complete it in time for Bangladesh's final graduation from
the LDC status,” he added.
Both leaders also exchanged views and perspectives on regional
and global issues. The foreign secretary informed that there was a
strong agreement between the two leaders on the significance of
further strengthening bilateral, and subregional cooperation to
sustain prosperity in these challenging times.
“Both prime ministers held extensive and productive discussions
on the entire range of bilateral issues including political and
security cooperation, energy partnership, water corporation, trade
and economic ties, development partnership and strengthening
people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views and perspectives
on regional and global issues,” Kwatra said.
Both leaders unveiled and inaugurated important development
projects including Unit I of the joint Maitree power plant and
Rupsha bridge and witnessed the exchange of seven MoUs in the areas
of water resources, capacity building, railway, science and
technologies.
Highlighting the key issues that came under discussion, the
Indian foreign secretary said both leaders emphasised the
importance of security cooperation, counter-terrorism, and
cross-border crimes.
“Both leaders underscored the importance of continuing our close
security cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, border
management, and cross-border crimes. They agreed to further enhance
our development partnership including upgradation of railway infra
projects in Bangladesh,” he said.
“Bangladesh is one of India's important development partners
both in terms of value and concessionality of terms and the range
of cooperation in the entire spectrum of the development
partnership,” he added.
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