Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov tonight said they have agreed to increase and strengthen trade and investment relations with Bangladesh.

Describing Bangladesh a good and long-standing partner in South Asia, he said they are intensifying their bilateral contact with Bangladesh.

While speaking at a joint media briefing after his bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Lavrov said they also discussed the Rohingya crisis.

He said they support continuous negotiations between Bangladesh and Myanmar in finding the solutions.

The Russian foreign minister also talked about flagship project -- Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, and laid emphasis on its implementation in a consistent manner.

"We are very delighted as the Russian foreign minister is visiting Bangladesh for the first time. We have deep relations with Russia," said Momen.

He said they discussed Rohingya issue, trade and investment, and greater market access to Russia.

"We don't want war. We want all issues get resolved through dialogue and discussion," Momen said.

"We maintain a very balanced foreign policy. We follow our own interests, and till today, we are maintaining a very independent policy. Our objective is to resolve all the issues through dialogue and discussion," Momen told reporters while responding to a question.

The Russian foreign minister arrived in Dhaka this evening on a two-day working visit which is seen as an important step amid changed global scenario.

Momen received his Russian counterpart at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 6:17pm.

This is the first visit to Bangladesh by any Russian foreign minister since independence.

Lavrov will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tomorrow morning.

He will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi before departure tomorrow.

The two countries will discuss prospects for development of bilateral relations and exchange views on the most pressing regional and international issues, said the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.

The Russian foreign minister will attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9-10 after completing his visit to Bangladesh.

Lavrov was scheduled to visit Bangladesh on November 23 last year, mainly to attend the 22nd IORA Council of Ministers meeting, held in Dhaka on November 24. But the visit was called off at the last minute.