July 15, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1424

DHAKA, July 14: Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha arrived in Bangladesh on Monday for a landmark meeting of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) to discuss key bilateral economic issues.

Sinha was greeted at the airport by Foreign Minister Morshed Khan. They will head teams for Tuesday’s sixth Indo-Bangladesh JEC meeting, the first in six years, officials said.

The last JEC meeting was held in New Delhi in 1997.

A preparatory meeting of senior officials of the two countries began in Dhaka on Monday, officials said.

Morshed Khan earlier said the JEC meeting would cover all economic issues and their talks would not only help boost economic ties, but also bilateral ties in general. Bangladeshi official sources said Dhaka would push for duty-free access to Indian markets to narrow a growing trade gap of about a billion dollars between the two countries.

India will be seeking Dhaka’s views on a bilateral free-trade agreement along with opening of rail and new road links between them, official sources said.

In New Delhi, foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna on Monday said the main issues to be discussed at the JEC meeting would include bilateral economic and commerce.—AFP