Stronger security, trade, water ties ahead

According to the revised bilateral trade agreement signed on Tuesday, the two countries can use respective territories for transporting goods. This is good news for Mizoram, which hopes to improve its bamboo trade with the rest of the country and Bangladesh.

In a joint press statement released today, both sides agreed to find 8216;8216;mutually-satisfactory solutions8217;8217; through frequent meetings of the joint institutional mechanisms set up for the purpose of addressing the issues.

The two countries said they had 8216;8216;greater understanding and appreciation8217;8217; of each other8217;s point of view. They agreed the visit had contributed to 8216;8216;further consolidation and progress8217;8217; the bilateral relationship.

The talks between the two PMs were described as 8216;8216;forward looking8217;8217; and constructive. 8216;8216;Whether it is security, trade or sharing of water, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work closely together to find mutually-satisfactory solutions.8217;8217;

It was agreed that meetings of the bilateral institutional mechanisms such as the Home Secretary-level talks, joint boundary working groups, the Joint Rivers Commission and Joint Economic Commission, would be held more frequently to 8216;8216;ensure movement in a positive direction and their outcome monitored by the political leadership on continuous basis.8217;8217;

Both leaders agreed to maintain high-level political dialogue between the two countries. Zia invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Bangladesh, dates of which would be worked out through diplomatic channels.