Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said Bangladesh aims to turn its long-standing friendship with Japan into a powerful engine of economic opportunity and shared prosperity, inviting Japanese investors and businesses to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh.

“Our ambition is clear: to turn this friendship between our two nations into a powerful engine of economic opportunity and shared prosperity. Together, let us build a partnership that serves our peoples today and creates a lasting legacy for generations to come,” he said at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, known as the Kantei, in Tokyo.

Speaking after their bilateral summit at the Kantei, Tarique said the two countries have an opportunity to take their relationship to new heights through greater cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships.

He said the two leaders held fruitful discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation in energy, information and communication technology, railways, infrastructure, deep-sea ports and foreign direct investment.

“At the invitation of our Excellency Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan, I am leading a delegation from Bangladesh on an official visit to Japan,” Tarique said, expressing gratitude to Takaichi and the Japanese people for their warm welcome and hospitality.

He said Japan holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh, with the friendship between the two countries rooted in mutual respect, trust and a shared vision of peace, prosperity and stability.

Recalling that Japan was among the earliest countries to recognise Bangladesh after its independence in 1971, the Prime Minister said Japan has been one of Bangladesh’s most valued development partners for more than five decades, making significant contributions to the country’s socioeconomic progress and infrastructure development.

He said the visit has produced concrete steps to deepen bilateral relations, with several memorandums of understanding exchanged across key areas.

A joint statement will outline the outcomes of the discussions and the shared priorities of the two countries, Tarique added.

He invited Japanese investors, businesses and financial institutions to explore opportunities in Bangladesh, saying his government is committed to working with Japanese partners to unlock the country’s potential through productive investment, technology transfer, skilled employment and mutually beneficial business ventures.

“Together, we can build a more resilient and prosperous future for both our great nations,” the Prime Minister said.

He also called for building a partnership that will serve the people of both countries and create a lasting legacy for future generations.

The bilateral summit between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi began at 11:45am local time at the Kantei.

The meeting followed a formal welcome at 11:30am, a guard of honour and the introduction of the two leaders’ respective delegations.