Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh and Japan have successfully elevated the bilateral relations to a “Strategic Partnership” from the existing “Comprehensive Partnership”.
“We are happy that Bangladesh and Japan have successfully elevated the bilateral relations to a ‘Strategic Partnership’ from the existing ‘Comprehensive Partnership’,” she said.
The prime minister said this while delivering her joint statement after holding the summit meeting with her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio at his office here.
Hasina said Kishida and she have discussed the entire gamut of their bilateral relations in the meeting.
“Our two sides have signed 8 agreements and memorandums of cooperation (MoCs) which will further institutionalise our future cooperation in the areas of agriculture, customs matters, defence, ICT and cyber-security, Industrial upgrading, intellectual property, ship recycling and metro rail,” she said.
Hasina said they both also discussed about Rohingya crisis as the overdue presence of the Rohingyas has seriously been affecting the lives and livelihoods of the local communities in Bangladesh.
“We requested Japan to help finding a durable solution to the crisis by using its channel of communication with Myanmar,” she said.
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She also announced the Dhaka-Narita direct flight is going to operate within this year.
She mentioned that they have also discussed about the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI) and BIG-B Initiative for development of Southern Bangladesh for connecting the Bay of Bengal and the neighbouring regions.
The BIG-B initiative is to accelerate industrial agglomeration along the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar belt area and beyond, encompassing developing economic infrastructure, improving investment environment and fostering connectivity. The two prime ministers also expected the initiative, with maximum use of Japan's advanced technologies and socioeconomic development experiences, to yield mutual benefits and prosperity to both countries.
She thanked the Government of Japan for being one of the largest development partners of Bangladesh.
“We are looking forward to concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in the days ahead," she said.
She expressed her confidence that the excellent understanding, friendship and cooperation that exist between the peoples and governments of the two countries would grow even stronger in the years ahead.
PM Hasina said Japan occupies a very special place in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh.
She recalled that Japan was among those few countries that gave early recognition to Bangladesh on 10 February 1972.
“The historic visit of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in October 1973 laid the foundation of our lasting friendship, " she added.
Earlier on her arrival here, Bangladesh prime minister was received by Kishida Fumio at the entrance hall of the Japanese Prime Minister Office.
She was given ceremonial guard of honour.
After the summit meeting, both the prime ministers signed the joint statement. They also witnessed the exchange of bilateral agreements or memorandums of understanding (MoUs).