Khaleda calls on Kalam, Shekhawat; discusses bilateral issues

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is on a three-day visit to India, today called on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and discussed bilateral and regional issues.

At a half-an-hour meeting at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Dr Kalam and Begum Zia also discussed other matters of mutual interest, a Presidential spokesman said.

Later, she called on Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at Vice President House, and the two leaders had wide-ranging discussions on issues concerning greater people-to-people exchange and greater cooperation in the fields of trade and development.

Welcoming Begum Zia, Mr Shekhawat recalled the close cultural and ethnic ties between the people of India and Bangladesh.

The meeting lasted about half an hour.

Earlier in the morning, Begum Zia, who arrived here yesterday, was given a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In the evening, she will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The External Affairs Ministry said the visit may be seen in the context of the policy of sustained and continuous high-level engagement that the Government of India had instituted with Bangladesh.

''Bangladesh is a close and friendly neighbour and the visit is testimony to the importance that both countries attach to bilateral relations,'' the statement said.

Dr Singh and Begum Zia had met in Dhaka in November last year on the sidelines of the 13th SAARC summit.

UNI SKS/SN LR BST1951