India looks forward to Khaleda’s visit

"It is an important meeting and India is happily preparing for it," she said while exchanging views with senior journalists of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha at its office.

Veena Sikri said the visit is taking place after seven years. India extended the invitation to Khaleda Zia when she came to power in 2001 and renewed it on several occasions.

She said a number of agreements are likely to be signed between the two countries during Khaleda's visit.

The Indian envoy said leaders of the two countries would discuss bilateral issues during the official talks.

She described Bangladesh as the biggest neighbour and said her government attaches high importance to the friendly relations between the two countries.

"We share common history and there are lots of common things that bind us together," she added.

Veena Sikri touched upon various issues of bilateral relations including the trade deficit, regional cooperation, India's river-linking project, border incidents and cross border smuggling, illicit drug and women and child trafficking.

She emphatically said India firmly believes in peace, stability and prosperity of its neighbours including Bangladesh with whom there is a long 4000-km common border.

When asked about building dam at the Tipaimukh on Barak river in Manipur state of India which is likely to reduce water flow at the Bangladesh rivers of Surma and Kushiyara, the envoy said it was essentially a hydro-electric project. It would not affect the water flow of the two rivers.

Responding to a question on river-linking project, Veena Sikri said India was considering the linking of rivers in the southern Peninsula that would not affect the Himalayan rivers.

"The Himalayan rivers are not considered for river linking," she added.

Regarding trade gap, the envoy said with constant talks and discussions at various levels including the Joint Economic Commission, Joint Working Group and other relevant bodies, the gap could be reduced.