Bangla PM arrives, hopes for improvement in ties

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia arrived here today on a three-day official visit hoping for a ''perceptible improvement'' in bilateral relations and a ''new phase'' of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

''I look forward to very candid and constructive discussions with our friends in India. I hope that as a result of our discussions, it would be possible for us to create conditions for perceptible improvement in the content of our cooperative relations,'' she said in her arrival statement.

She was received at the airport by Minister of state for External Affairs E Ahamed and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

Begum Zia said both India and Bangladesh had registered impressive economic and social progress. However, many problems still remained, she said referring to poverty in both countries.

''We can overcome these problems only through cooperation in an environment of peace and stability,'' she added.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister said she would discuss all issues of relevance to both countries.

''It will be my intention to carry forward our sustained engagement in a positive direction so that this major objective is also realised,'' she said adding that she had come to India carrying goodwill of the people of her country.

''Our friendship has over the years drawn strength from our very intimate economic, social and cultural ties. We are, indeed, keen to further deepen these ties,'' she added.

Begum Zia who is here XXX Picking up third para of DI 32, External--Lead India-Bangladesh.

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