Dhaka: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday termed Bangladesh a 'reliable partner' and highly appreciated the upward trajectory of bilateral relations since the official visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Moscow in 2013.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali had official talks with his Russian counterpart in Moscow in the morning and witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Russia.

These are MoU between the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation and Ministry of Information of Bangladesh on cooperation in the field of mass communications, and MoU on cooperation between the ITAR TASS News Agency (of the Russian Federation) and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

Foreign Minister Ali expressed happiness at the signing of these MoUs and urged the Russian minister to consider resuming the Bengali Service of Radio Moscow, according to a message received here from Moscow.

This was the first official visit by a Bangladesh Foreign Minister to Russia, at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister, since the then USSR recognised Bangladesh as an independent country in January 1972.

The visit also coincided with 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both ministers agreed to pursue to achieve shared goals for the mutual benefits of the two peoples.

Sergey Lavrov also expressed happiness at the volume increase in two-way trade, that crossed $ 1.5 billion in 2015-2016 and hope that economic cooperation would be further intensified in the future.

Mahmood Ali recalled with deep gratitude the tremendous support that was extended by the people and Government of Russia (then USSR) during Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971.

He handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, to Foreign Minister Lavrov, inviting her counterpart to visit Bangladesh.

In her letter, Hasina expressed confidence that Prime Minister Medvedev's visit would be a milestone in marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, including laying the foundation to take it to the next level.

Mahmood Ali sought support of Foreign Minister Lavrov for duty- and quota-free access of Bangladesh's exports to Russian market and also in the member states of Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

He also invited Russian investors and companies for entering into joint-ventures or 100 percent owned business venture in the 100 special economic zones, those are currently under implementation.

Minister Lavrov opined that the level of cooperation in energy field could be further intensified.

Minister Ali sought support of his counterpart for providing enhanced training for Bangladesh armed forces personnel in Russian defence institutions.

The Russian Foreign Minister agreed to take up the matter with his colleague at the Defence Ministry.

Foreign Minister Lavrov thanked Bangladesh for its support at the UN and allied bodies and particularly appreciated Bangladesh's balanced approach and understanding on many global issues of mutual interests.

Both the ministers discussed regional issues of mutual interests, including the situation concerning Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar.

The Bangladesh Foreign Minister sought the support of his Russian counterpart for finding a permanent solution of the protracted issue.

Mahmood Ali invited Lavrov to visit Bangladesh at an early date, and he warmly accepted it.

Later, Minister Ali visited the Russian Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and had a meeting with the minister in charge Nicoli A. Nikiforov.