DHAKA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh and Malaysia agreed on Wednesday to explore the possibility of concluding a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to add further substance to the steadily increasing bilateral trade and economic relations.

The discussion was held during the third Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two sides at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladeshi delegation, while a five-member Malaysian delegation was led by Dato Norman Muhamad, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.

The topics discussed included cooperation in trade and commerce, investment, energy, tourism and culture, defense and security, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, ICT and telecommunication etc., Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interests in the regional and international arena, it said, adding that both sides expressed optimism that the FOC, held after a hiatus of more than five years, would contribute significantly toward infusing further dynamism into the existing bilateral relations.

Describing Malaysia as an important investor country in Bangladesh, the foreign secretary encouraged a greater flow of foreign direct investment from Malaysia, particularly in the economic zones of Bangladesh, for mutual benefit. Enditem

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