Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has assured Bangladesh that Moscow was committed to completing a nuclear power project on time, despite obstacles resulting from Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov, the first Russian foreign minister to visit Bangladesh since its independence in 1971, reached Dhaka late on Thursday for a two-day visit after attending the East Asia summit in Jakarta.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen took up the issue of timely completion of the nuclear power project and bilateral trade issues with Lavrov, who also offered the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet Dhaka’s energy needs, officials said.
“Our flagship joint project is the construction of the Rooppur nuclear power plant on the territory of Bangladesh,” Lavrov said.
“The project is progressing smoothly in line with the schedule, and delivery and charging of first nuclear fuel are expected as early as in October,” Lavrov said after the meeting.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Russian Plane Crash Likely Kills Wagner Chief Prigozhin
Bangladesh is building the first of two nuclear power plants in collaboration with Russian state-owned atomic company Rosatom in a $12.65bn project, 90 percent of which is financed through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is not planning to make a video address at the upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi this weekend.
The Kremlin has said this to journalists Amid speculations that Mr. Putin will address the submit via video link.
The meeting comes amid fraught relations between Moscow and the West over the conflict in Ukraine, which caused deep tensions at last year’s summit in Bali.
READ ALSO: Putin Urges ‘Peaceful Resolution’ as Mali and Russia Discuss Niger
Asked whether Putin would make a separate video address, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, “No, there are no plans.”
He said “all the work” would be led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is leading Russia’s delegation.
ALJAZEERA