Khalilur holds bilateral talks with Jaishankar at Asean forum 

Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Khalilur Rahman has held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in the Philippines. 

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila today (23 July), according to the foreign ministry. 

The Indian external affairs minister also held a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on the sidelines. 

Sharing photographs of the meetings on X, Jaishankar said he was pleased to meet his Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan counterparts during the ARF gathering. 

The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, as India continued a series of high-level diplomatic engagements alongside the Asean-related foreign ministers' meetings. 

"Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr Khalilur Rahman and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr S Jaishankar greeted each other in Manila on the margin of ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting," said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Jaishankar also met Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath of Sri Lanka during the ARF meeting in Manila, Philippines, reports UNB.

Dr Khalilur Rahman yesterday held a series of high-level bilateral engagements with his counterparts from the US, Russia, China and Pakistan on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' meeting in Manila, highlighting Bangladesh's continued efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations with key international partners.

During the meetings, the Foreign Minister exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including economic cooperation, trade and investment opportunities, and matters of shared concern on the global stage, a diplomatic source told UNB.

Dr Khalilur is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' meeting and the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia.