Describing his country as a key economic partner of Bangladesh, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Vikentyevich Mantytskiy on Tuesday said Russia will continue to support Bangladesh in the international fora.

The Russian envoy made the remark during a courtesy meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Adviser Ali Imam Majumder and Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Affairs Lamiya Morshed, among others, were present at the meeting held at state guesthouse Jamuna.

The ambassador said the state-run Russian energy company, Gazprom, has expressed interest to explore five more gas wells in the island of Bhola and more inland wells.

He said the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is at the final stage, and is expected to go into operation next year.

During the meeting with the Chief Adviser, the Russian Ambassador discussed the nuclear power plant, which Bangladesh is building with technical and financial support from Russia, and increased cooperation on food security, energy exploration, and science and technology.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus recalled Russia’s role during Bangladesh’s Liberation War and its vital mine cleaning operations at the Chattogram Port.

Prof Yunus urged the Russian envoy to increase imports from Bangladesh, including products other than readymade garments, which constitute some 90 percent of Bangladesh’s exports to Russia.

“We need to diversify our exports,” Chief Adviser’s press wing quoted Prof Yunus as saying.

Ambassador Mantytskiy said Russia is a key economic partner of Bangladesh as it exports vital food grains and fertiliser to the country. Last year, Russia exported more than 2.3 million tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh and this year, the shipment crossed two million tonnes.

He said Russia is also interested in exporting LNG to Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser also stressed widening economic and education cooperation and people to people ties between the two nations.

Earlier, Russia congratulated interim government Chief Adviser Prof Yunus and reiterated its commitment to constructive joint work at the governmental level to strengthen trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian interaction.

“This fully meets the interests of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” said Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in a congratulatory message to Prof Yunus. He said the Bangladesh-Russia relations have been developing in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect, according to the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.