Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad, said yesterday that the Awami League government would make endeavours to strengthen relations with all countries for achieving expeditious economic progress of Bangladesh

Emphasising the need for economic diplomacy he said the foreign policy objective will best be served through all-out efforts to promote trade and economic relations with the Western neighbouring and Muslim countries.

In an interview with BSS at his office he said foreign policy must reflect internal policy of the government, and he ad ded. economic self reliance helps the country to assert its sovereignty

We ourselves have to take all-out Initiative to achieve a self-reliant economy using modem technology and creat ing employment opportunities In a faster pace with participa tion of all sections of the peo pie. he said

He said in the present day context economic diplomacy was needed to develop the country's economy by expand

ing external trade creating market for Bangladesh commodities abroad and creating employment opportunities both at home and abroad

Samad Azad said the foreign ministry would work in act or dance with the need of the time and people working here must have accountability

Replying to question he said priority would be given to re solve all outstanding problems with the neighbouring coun tries including India with which Bangladesh has a long common border In this context he stressed the need to arrive at solution of the long standing Ganges water sharing problem and said scarcity of water during lean period has been affecting the economy of Bangladesh The balance of trade between the two countries is also an important issue he added

He said India has shown interest to resolve bilateral problems with Bangladesh Asked about the reaction to the message sent to him by his Indian counterpart I K GujraJ he said It was a beginning of a new avenue to be explored by

both the newly-elected gov ernments

Samad Azad said he was confident that the bilateral problems with India would be resolved to the mutual benefit of the two countries

He said that now both the sides should make renewed ef forts to meet frequently and discuss all bilateral Issues to reach solutions

The foreign minister emphasised on strengthening further the economic coopera tion among the SAARC mem ber countries for common benefit

He said Bangladesh* relations with Muslim countries would be strengthened further In this context, he recalled that it was Bangabandhu* gov ernment which laid the foun datlon of promoting Bangla desh s relations with Muslim countries immediately after liberation He said Bangabandhu attended the QIC summit in Pakistan in 1973 following which relations with Muslim countries was strengthened

Asked what would be the Bangladesh s relation with the United State* following the changed global scenario. the foreign minister said Awami League had excellent relations with the United States even before the party came to power

He said the United States had welcomed the June 12 general election In Bangladesh and added that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Haslna would further strengthen the ties with the United States.

On China, Abdus Samad Azad recalled that it waa the Awami League government of the late Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy in the then Pak Istan which had established diplomatic ties with China in 1956

He referred to the visit of Sheikh Haslna to China in 1993 as the Bangladesh s opposition leader He said good relations already existed between the Awami League and the Chinese Communist Party and now the government to government relations would be promoted through economic cooperation.

In reply to a question, the foreign minister said the Awami League government was the builder of strong Bangladesh-Japan friendly relation in the wake of the nation's Liberation War.