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Moscow to assist Dhaka on space satellite launching, power generation

Dhaka, Nov 24, 2012 (BSS) - Russia has shown keen interest to help Bangladesh in its ambitious programme to launch telecom space satellite and power generation as Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni pursued a number of proposals to deepen bilateral relations.

Dipu Moni also requested for duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladesh readymade garments to the Russian market and its single custom union shared by Belarus and Kazakhstan and Russia, and import sea food.

The issues were raised when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave a reception to Dipu Moni at the historic Spiridonovka complex of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday. They also held a joint press briefing and luncheon.

The foreign ministers reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations between the two countries including economic, energy and power, trade, cultural, educational and defense cooperation.

They discussed the cooperation in the construction of Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh, reviewed status of a number of proposed agreements and MOUs, duty free and quota free access for Bangladesh products to the Russian market, and exchange of diplomatic properties.

The two Foreign Ministers also discussed different regional and international issues of common concern.

Dipu Moni gratefully recalled the valuable contribution of former Soviet Union and the Russian people in Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971. She mentioned that the bilateral relations with Russia got momentum after Sheikh Hasina returned power in 2009.

She expressed her satisfaction over developments in the preliminary steps for the establishment of nuclear power plant, assistance of Gazprom in the oil and gas exploration sector, modernization of old electricity generation units and also in the status of draft agreements, some of which are ready to be signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's tentative visit early next year.

The Russian Foreign Minister assured his country's support in Bangladesh's bid to be the observer of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

At the end of the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers briefed the members of the local and international press based in Moscow. Bangladesh Foreign Minister invited her Russian counterpart to
visit Bangladesh which he accepted.

Dipu Moni was assisted by Bangladesh Ambassador to the Russian Federation Dr. SM Saiful Hoque and senior officials, while the Russian Foreign Minister was assisted by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Margulov and other senior officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry.