Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Modi discusses ties with Sirisena, Hasina

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com

Held talks with PM Sheikh Hasina... We reviewed full range of the Indiabangl­adesh relations and ways to boost cultural as well as economic ties

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Bangladesh counterpar­t Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Maithripal­a Sirisena on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties, officials said.

“Held talks with PM Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit in Kathmandu. We reviewed the full range of India-bangladesh relations and ways to boost economic as well as cultural relations,” Modi tweeted.

An official said the two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and discussed issues of mutual interest. In her speech at the summit, Hasina spoke about the outreach meeting Modi hosted for Bimstec leaders that “gave a fresh momentum” to the grouping.

Modi and Sirisena discussed various developmen­tal cooperatio­n programmes between the two countries. “A number of projects we are doing with Sri Lanka was discussed and the Prime Minister reiterated that India is fully committed to ensuring that we will assist Sri Lanka in any way that it desires in taking these projects forward,” foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said.

“We would like to see the developmen­t of Sri Lanka as something to which India has contribute­d and which is of mutual benefit to the region.”

Earlier, Modi t weeted: “Delighted to meet President @Maithripal­as. We had extensive deliberati­ons on various aspects of India-sri Lanka friendship.”

 ?? REUTERS ?? (From left) Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, chief advisor of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Wangchuk, PM Narendra Modi, Myanmar President Win Myint, Nepal PM KP Oli, Sri Lanka President Maithripal­a Sirisena and Thailand PM Prayut Chanocha attend the Bimstec summit in Kathmandu Thursday.
REUTERS (From left) Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, chief advisor of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Wangchuk, PM Narendra Modi, Myanmar President Win Myint, Nepal PM KP Oli, Sri Lanka President Maithripal­a Sirisena and Thailand PM Prayut Chanocha attend the Bimstec summit in Kathmandu Thursday.

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