Staff Reporter :
India has praised Bangladesh for its zero tolerance against terrorism which has brought forth peace and security in the entire South Asian region, especially to the North-Eastern States of India.
Indian Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu made the appreciation when Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday paid a courtesy call on the Vice President in New Delhi.
The vice president of India also expressed his satisfaction for the excellent bilateral relationship which has been strengthened in the recent years.
Venkaiah Naidu also stated that the relationship between Bangladesh and India is based on mutual trust and Bangladesh occupies a special place at the foreign policy outlook of India, as both the countries are linked by shared
history, culture, tradition, language and common values. Thanking the Vice President for giving his time for the call on, Foreign Minister Momen expressed his satisfaction on the successful discussion held at the JCC Meeting.
He noted that Bangladesh considers India as the closest neighbour and 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.
The vice president also congratulated Bangladesh on the economic success the country achieved in the past decade under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and wished for working together for further prosperity in the days to come.
He particularly applauded the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government to ensure women empowerment and their participation in the economic activities.
During the official visit to India, Dr Momen 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, renewable energy like solar and wind, LNG, LPG, diesel, etc.
They also discussed the global evolving situation with a particular focus on the energy demand and supply discourse. Both the ministers stressed on the need to ensure energy security and energy cooperation in the sub-region.
The Indian petroleum minister 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 19 June, Dr. Momen met the minister of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food and public distribution and textiles of India, Piyush Goyal.
Both the ministers expressed satisfaction that bilateral trade has recorded significant growth during the last few years.
Dr Momen stated that Indian business houses can take advantage of investing in Bangladesh particularly in the Special Economic Zone 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 visiting New Delhi to lead the Bangladesh delegation in the 7th JCC meeting held on 19 June 2022, co-chaired by the two foreign ministers of Bangladesh and India.
Foreign Minister Momen held a substantive and fruitful meeting with his counterpart and other dignitaries of the government of India. He was scheduled to return to Dhaka on 20 June in the evening.
