NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh have agreed to work closely to find "mutually satisfactory solutions" to issues relating to security, trade and river water sharing.

A joint release said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit had contributed to further consolidation of the "already close and friendly relations" between the two countries.

Referring to the Tuesday talks between Begum Khaleda and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it said, "The discussions between the two were underpinned by the common desire to strengthen and consolidate the friendly ties that already exist between the two countries based as they are on shared history and culture and wide-ranging people-to-people relations."

Begum Khaleda's visit had provided both nations an opportunity to sustain their high-level political dialogue. "The visit is a testimony to the highest priority attached by both countries to the promotion of their bilateral relations in all aspects."

It was agreed that meetings of the Joint Economic Commission, Joint Boundary Working Groups, Joint Rivers Commission and the Home Secretarys would be more frequent to ensure a movement in a positive direction and their outcome monitored by the political leadership on a "continuous basis".

Invitation to Manmohan

Begum Khaleda invited Dr. Singh to visit Bangladesh.

"The invitation was accepted by the Indian Prime Minister with pleasure and precise dates would be worked out through diplomatic channels," the statement said.

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