Bangladesh and Russia are set to review the current state and future prospects of bilateral cooperation during talks between Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on June 8.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides will also exchange views on key regional and international issues.
The discussions are taking place during Dr Khalilur Rahman’s three-day official visit to Russia from June 7 to 9 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart.
The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that this is Khalilur Rahman’s first visit to Russia in his current role and that he represents the government formed following the parliamentary elections held in February this year.
The ministry described Bangladesh as a longstanding partner in South Asia and said political dialogue between the two countries has continued to develop steadily despite changing political circumstances.
In addition to the foreign minister-level talks, the visit programme includes a meeting between the Bangladeshi foreign minister and the leadership of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
The Russian side said cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia remains active in several sectors, including trade, energy, education and multilateral diplomacy.
According to Moscow, bilateral trade has consistently exceeded US$2 billion in recent years. Russia mainly exports industrial equipment, mineral fertilizers and wheat to Bangladesh, while importing ready-made garments and seafood.
The Russian Foreign Ministry highlighted the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as the flagship project of bilateral cooperation. It noted that the first power unit was commissioned on April 28, while the second unit may also become operational this year.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected to meet up to 10 percent of Bangladesh’s electricity demand.
The ministry also pointed to growing educational cooperation, stating that 185 scholarships have been allocated to Bangladeshi students for the 2025-26 academic year under Russia’s federal scholarship programme.