Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between the countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday after he left Dhaka completing his two-day official visit.
His visit marked the first visit by any Russian foreign minister to Bangladesh.
Minister for Science and Technology Architect Yeafesh Osman saw him off at the airport.
Lavrov held a bilateral meeting with Dr Momen and attended a joint press briefing with him Thursday night.
He paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on Friday morning and visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
At the bilateral meeting between the two foreign ministers, Momen stated that Russia is a time-tested friend of Bangladesh, highlighting the origins of this friendship in 1971 through the unique support of the then USSR during Bangladesh's War of Independence.
He noted that the historic visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Moscow in March 1972 laid the foundation for bilateral relations between the two nations.
He highlighted that the USSR’s assistance in clearing mines from Chittagong Port after the War of Independence, at the request of Bangabandhu, played a crucial role in making the port operational again.
The foreign minister stated that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official visit to Russia in 2013, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has significantly consolidated bilateral relations between the two countries.
Lavrov expressed that Russia is proud of the then USSR’s role in Bangladesh's War of Independence and its subsequent support for the country's post-war reconstruction.
He assured the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project would be completed as per the schedule, despite all difficulties.
He also stated that his country wishes to enhance exports from Bangladesh and make long-term arrangements to increase the supply of fuel, food, and fertilizer to Bangladesh.
The two countries also discussed enhancing bilateral trade, Russian investment in Bangladesh’s emerging sectors, as well as educational, cultural, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Momen requested Russia's cooperation in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
The Russian Foreign Minister said that the Russian government regularly discusses the issue with the Myanmar government and assured to raise the issue of Rohingya's return at the upcoming Russia-Myanmar Foreign Ministerial Meeting.
The two sides also exchanged views on protracted war in Ukraine, climate change, global peace and security and cooperation in different international and regional fora, including the UN.