Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Aleksandr Mantytsky said on Tuesday Russia will continue to support Bangladesh in international fora.
He made the comment when he made a courtesy call to the Chief Adviser of the interim Bangladesh government Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna
During the meeting, he discussed the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which Bangladesh is building with technical and financial support from Russia, and increased cooperation on food security, energy exploration and science and technology.
He said the state-run Russian energy company Gazprom has expressed interest in exploring five more gas wells in the island of Bhola and more wells inland.
He said the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is at the final stage and is expected to go into operation next year. He said Russia was also interested in exporting LNG to Bangladesh.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus recalled Russia's role during Bangladesh's glorious War of Independence and its vital mine cleaning operations in the Chittagong Port.
He called the Russian envoy to increase imports from Bangladesh, including products other than readymade garments, which constitute some 90% of Dhaka's exports to Russia.
"We need to diversify our exports," he said.
Ambassador Mantytsky said Russia is a key economic partner of Bangladesh as it exports vital foodgrains and fertilizer to the country.
Last year, Russia exported more than 2.3 million tons of wheat to Bangladesh and this year the shipment crossed two million tons.
The chief adviser has also stressed widening economic and education cooperation and people to people's ties between the two nations.
