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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina had a ‘very good meeting’
India and Bangladesh have voiced satisfaction over the smooth implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held "a very good" meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
Modi and Hasina had a "very good meeting" during which they reviewed the progress in bilateral relations since the time they had last met when the Indian leader had visited Bangladesh, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters in New York.
"Both of them expressed great happiness at the very smooth manner in which the land boundary agreement had been implemented. They look forward to the continued implementation of the agreement in the coming months," Swarup said.
Hasina reiterated Bangladesh's support for India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed United Nations Security Council. She also voiced her full support to India's position that "there must be reform of the UNSC and the 70th anniversary of the UN affords an excellent opportunity to the international community" to speed up efforts and complete the reforms process.
The two leaders also discussed the need to reform other global institutions like the Indian Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Hasina and Modi also discussed issues of connectivity and infrastructure, as well as the sustainable development goals.
Swarup said Modi noted that that the SDGs have enshrined poverty alleviation as their goal which is the need of the hour.
Modi then had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Everard Gonsalves. Swarup said the small Caribbean nation is "an influential voice" in the UN. Modi specifically thanked Gonsalves for the leadership he had shown at the time of the text-based negotiations on UNSC reforms.
Swarup said it was the result of the initiative taken by countries like St Vincent that "we were able" to get a UN General Assembly decision on text-based negotiations.
Modi also voiced India's commitment to continue assisting the country in capacity building. He extended and invitation to Gonsalves to visit India soon.
In his bilateral meeting with Guyana President David Granger, Modi discussed the threat posed by terrorism. They also discussed UNSC reforms.
Modi underscored the need for the international community to come together and pass the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, Swarup said.
The broad-based discussions also touched upon the state of bilateral relationship and what could be done to further improve the partnership, Swarup said.
The two leaders also discussed the need for the international community to cooperate with each other more closely in order to bring about the long-pending reform of the UNSC. He also discussed the proposed centre for excellence in IT that India is going to set up in the Guyana.
Modi will hold bilateral meetings on Friday with King of Jordan Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades. He will also meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before he addresses the UN Sustainable Development Summit.