January 07, 2025 05:25 pm (IST)
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Potentiality of Indo-Bangladesh partnership vast: Swaraj
Dhaka, June 26 (IBNS): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is in Bangladesh, on Thursday said the potentiality of India's partnership with her immediate neighbouring county is vast.
"I come to Bangladesh with a message of friendship and goodwill from the newly elected Government in India. I come with the goal of enhancing our relationship and mutual understanding. I come with the belief that the potential of our partnership is vast. I come with the faith that the people of both our countries desire and deserve closer relations and concrete results," Swaraj said while delivering a speech at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies here.
She said the Indian government is committed to pursuing new approaches and fresh thinking.
"We will strive to shift our model from youth development to youth-led development. My Government's foreign policy will be based on the principles of developing peaceful and friendly relations with all countries, anchored in enlightened national self-interest. It will combine the strength of our values with pragmatism, leading to a doctrine of mutually beneficial relationships," Swaraj said.
She said India will pursue a policy of active engagement with her neighbours with the aim of ensuring security, stability and prosperity for all.
"In a unique and bold signal of our commitment to this policy, we invited leaders of all South Asian countries for the swearing in ceremony of our new Government on May 26," Swaraj added.
Swaraj said: "We are convinced that India's development cannot be complete and sustainable unless we succeed in building productive partnerships with our immediate neighbours. We will, therefore, devote our energy to working much more closely with our neighbours in pursuit of our development goals. We will walk the extra mile to create opportunities and to build virtuous cycles of prosperity in the region."
" We will pursue the goal of economic integration and interconnectedness through trade, investment, transportation, capacity building, environment friendly practices and means that promote equitable development in the region," she assured.
Building a comprehensive and equitable partnership with Bangladesh is essential for the realization of our vision of a stable, secure and prosperous South Asia, the External Affairs Minister said.
Speaking on Teesta water sharing issue, she said, "I am aware that there are issues of concern to Bangladesh which remain unresolved, such as the sharing of the Teesta waters, implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement and its Protocol, and better border management. My Government is committed to addressing all these in a manner that improves the welfare & well being of both our people."
She said that there is extensive high-level bilateral interaction between the two countires' leaders over the next few months.
"We have agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission in Delhi for which I have invited His Excellency the Foreign Minister Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali to visit India. Our Ministers and senior officials from a number of Ministries will be taking discussions forward. This includes the Joint Rivers Commission. We anticipate that all this will help us to break fresh ground in our relationship," she said.
Meanwhile, Swaraj on Thursday met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She also met her Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali here and discussed key bilateral issues.
The bilateral talks began at the Bangladesh foreign ministry around 10:00 am.
According to reports, the two leaders talked over issues like the Land Boundary Agreement, illegal immigration and proposed Teesta river water sharing deal.
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh accompanied Swaraj to the meeting.
She arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday evening on a two-day visit to Bangladesh.
She will meet Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party leader Rowshan Ershad on Friday.
This is Swaraj's first foreign visit after becoming the External Affairs Minister.
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