WEB DESK
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina in New York on the margins of the High-Level Segment of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
In their first meeting since their re-election, Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for attending the special commemorative event organized by India to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
The two leaders reviewed the excellent state of bilateral relations and cooperation and agreed to maintain the momentum to take the India-Bangladesh relationship to new heights. The leaders reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and violent extremism and agreed that a strong partnership in security had built trust and mutual confidence between the two countries.
Improved land, riverine, sea and air connectivity, an intensified partnership in energy, and rapidly expanding trade and economic ties were recognized as important drivers of progress and stability in the region. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the impressive economic growth recorded by Bangladesh under her leadership and emphasized India’s commitment to remain a leading development partner of Bangladesh.
The two leaders also discussed the regional and global situation. Prime Minister of Bangladesh extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Bangladesh and suggested that it could be undertaken also in connection with the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. The invitation was accepted by Prime Minister Modi, who also reiterated India’s offer to work closely with Bangladesh to mark this important historical milestone.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Dr. Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister of Bhutan on the sidelines of the High-Level Segment of the 74th United Nations General Assembly.
The two leaders reviewed the bilateral relationship following the successful visit of Prime Minister Modi to Bhutan in August 2019 and expressed satisfaction at the progress made in diverse sectors including development partnership, hydropower cooperation, people to people ties and recent initiatives taken in the newer areas of space, digital connectivity, the financial sector and tertiary education.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed Bhutan into the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as a founding member. The Coalition was announced by the Prime Minister in the course of the Climate Action Summit held on 23 September in New York.
This was the fourth meeting between the two Prime Ministers in the last one year, which is reflective of our close and special relations with Bhutan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades discussed issues of regional and international significance, including terrorism, during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the High-Level Segment of the UN General Assembly session yesterday.
In 2018-19, the bilateral trade stood at 464 million dollars. The two leaders stressed the need to enhance the volume of bilateral trade and investment given the considerable potential and strengths of the two economies, according to an official press release. Modi expressed gratitude to the government of Cyprus for its support to India’s candidature for the UNSC permanent membership in an expanded Security Council, NSG and other international platforms.
He reiterated India’s consistent support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. Mr. Modi invited President Anastasiades to join the International Solar Alliance.