By IANS,
New Delhi: A day before he goes to Dhaka on a historic visit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday underlined India’s commitment to support the development of Bangladesh and hoped his visit will ?lead to greater cooperation? between the two neighbours in all areas.
“As a close neighbour and friend, India is committed to extending its full support to Bangladesh in its development efforts,? Manmohan Singh said in a statement ahead of his two-day visit that is expected to transform relations between the two countries.
“Our partnership with Bangladesh is important for the stability and prosperity of our own northeast region. It is a partnership which can have a profound positive impact on the South Asian region as a whole,? the prime minister said.
With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opting out at the last minute over differences relating to a pact on sharing of the Teesta waters, Manmohan Singh will now be accompanied by the chief ministers of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram on the trip.
Manmohan Singh said the two countries are witnessing ?an extraordinary period of cooperation and friendship”, and hoped to build on the positive momentum in bilateral relations.
Alluding to concrete progress in an entire array of areas including security, boundary issues, water resources, power connectivity, improvement of border infrastructure, trade facilitation and economic cooperation, Manmohan Singh hoped his visit will lead to ?greater cooperation between India and Bangladesh in all these areas.?
“Our endeavour will be to sustain and build upon this positive momentum,? he said.
“We also expect to conclude concrete agreements which will help us to elevate the level of our cooperation in the traditional areas of cooperation and to develop cooperation in new areas,? he said.
A clutch of agreements, including a defining pact on border settlement that will include a swap of enclaves in each other’s territories, is expected to be signed Tuesday after talks between Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Sheikh Hasina Wajed.
He will also call on Bangladesh President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and meet the leaders of other political parties. He will outline his vision of India-Bangladesh relations at the Dhaka University Wednesday before returning to India in the night.