Japan
Japan leader expresses sympathy for Korean colonial victims
Japan’s prime minister expressed sympathy for the suffering of Korean forced laborers during Japan’s colonial rule, as he and his South Korean counterpart on Sunday renewed resolve to overcome historical grievances and strengthen cooperation in the face of shared challenges such as North Korea’s nuclear program.
Comments by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol — their second meeting in less than two months — were closely watched in South Korea, where many still harbor strong resentment against Japan's 1910-45 colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsula.
Yoon has faced domestic criticism that he had preemptively made concessions to Tokyo without getting corresponding steps in return. Kishida’s statement, which avoided a new, direct apology over the colonization but still sympathized with the Korean victims, suggests he felt pressure to say something to maintain momentum for an effort to improve ties.
“And personally, I have strong pain in my heart as I think of the extreme difficulty and sorrow that many people had to suffer under the severe environment in those days,” Kishida told a joint news conference with Yoon, referring to the Japanese colonial period.
He said he believes “it is my responsibility as prime minister of Japan to cooperate with” Yoon to forge stronger relations.
Kishida arrived in South Korea earlier Sunday for a two-day visit, which reciprocates a mid-March trip to Tokyo by Yoon and marks the first exchange of visits between the leaders of the Asian neighbors in 12 years.
The back-to-back summits were largely meant to resolve the countries’ bitter disputes caused by the 2018 court rulings in South Korea that ordered two Japanese companies to financially compensate some of their aging former Korean employees for colonial-era forced labor. Japan has refused to abide by the verdicts, arguing that all compensation issues were already settled when the two countries normalized ties in 1965.
The wrangling led to the countries downgrading each other’s trade status and Seoul’s previous liberal government threatening to spike a military intelligence-sharing pact. Their strained ties complicated U.S. efforts to build a stronger regional alliance to better cope with rising Chinese influence and North Korean nuclear threats.
In March, however, Yoon’s conservative government took a major step toward mending the ties by announcing it would use local funds to compensate the forced labor victims without demanding contributions from Japanese companies. Later in March, Yoon traveled to Tokyo to meet with Kishida, and the two agreed to resume leadership-level visits and other talks. Their governments have since taken steps to withdraw their economic retaliatory steps.
Yoon’s push, however, drew strong backlash from some of the forced labor victims and his liberal rivals at home, who have demanded direct compensation from the Japanese companies. Yoon has defended his move, saying greater cooperation with Japan is required to jointly tackle North Korea’s advancing nuclear program, the intensifying U.S.-China strategic rivalry and global supply chain challenges.
“We should stay away from a thinking that we must not make a step forward because our history issues aren’t settled completely,” Yoon said Sunday. He said that 10 out of the 15 former forced laborers or their families involved in the 2018 rulings had accepted compensation under Seoul’s third-party reimbursement plan.
Kishida said: “I’m struck by the fact that many people, despite their painful memories from the past, opened their hearts for the future as measures by the South Korean government related to (the fund) move forward.”
Kishida also reaffirmed his government upholds the positions of previous Japanese administrations on the colonization issue, including the landmark 1998 joint declaration by Tokyo and Seoul, but didn’t make a new apology. In that declaration, then-Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said: “I feel acute remorse and offer an apology from my heart” over the colonial rule.
Japanese governments have expressed remorse or apologies over the colonial period numerous times. But some Japanese officials and politicians have occasionally made comments that have been accused of whitewashing Tokyo’s wartime aggressions, prompting Seoul to urge Tokyo to make new, more sincere apologies.
Ahead of his summit with Yoon, Kishida and his wife, Yuko Kishida, visited the national cemetery in Seoul, where they burned incense and paid a silent tribute before a memorial. Buried or honored in the cemetery are mostly Korean War dead, but include Korean independence fighters during the period of Japanese rule. Kishida was the first Japanese leader to visit the place in 12 years.
“Kishida’s comments about Koreans who suffered under Japanese colonialism may be criticized for not being more specific about historical perpetrators and more apologetic toward historical victims,” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said. “But Kishida did visit South Korea’s national cemetery and said that his heartfelt views, respect for the past, and recognition of current global challenges produce a sense of responsibility for improving Seoul-Tokyo relations.”
Yoon said talks among Seoul, Tokyo and Washington are underway to implement their earlier agreement on a faster exchange of information on North Korean missile tests. Yoon said he and Kishida reaffirmed that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs pose a grave threat to the two countries and the rest of the world.
In late April, Yoon made a state visit to the United States and agreed with President Joe Biden to reinforce deterrence capabilities against North Korea's nuclear threats. During a joint news conference, Biden thanked Yoon “for your political courage and personal commitment to diplomacy with Japan.”
Yoon, Biden and Kishida are expected to hold a trilateral meeting later this month on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meetings in Hiroshima to discuss North Korea, China's assertiveness and Russia's war on Ukraine. Yoon was invited as one of eight outreach nations.
Kishida said he and Yoon would pay respects before a memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima. In another apparent conciliatory measure, Kishida said Japan will allow South Korean experts to visit and inspect a planned release of treated but still radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Election is Bangladesh’s internal affair, would refrain from commenting: Japanese Ambassador
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori has said he would prefer to refrain from commenting on Bangladesh’s upcoming election, calling it “an internal affair”.
“I would refrain from making any comments on this. It is an internal affair of Bangladesh,” he said when a journalist wanted to know Japan’s position on the subject after bilateral relationship was elevated to “strategic partnership” during PM Hasina’s recent official visit.
Also Read: US calls upcoming national election an 'internal' affair of Bangladesh
The ambassador was briefing media at the Japanese Embassy on Wednesday on the recent meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo.
Iwama Kiminori made the remark when during the briefing, a journalist referred to the previous Japanese ambassador’s comment in November last year.
At the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Sheikh Hasina made an official visit to Japan and had a summit meeting on April 26.
Read More: Bangladesh, Japan focusing on ‘comprehensive and targeted-oriented’ partnership: Ambassador
Bangladesh, Japan focusing on ‘comprehensive and targeted-oriented’ partnership: Ambassador
Expressing satisfaction over the discussion between the PMs of Bangladesh and Japan during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent official visit, Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori today said the two countries are focusing on a “very comprehensive and targeted-oriented” partnership.
“Our relationship has been elevated to strategic partnership from comprehensive partnership. Strategic partnership does not mean only political and security issues,” he told reporters at a media briefing at the Japanese embassy.
The ambassador, who returned from Tokyo on Tuesday, said the two countries should have mutually beneficial cooperation on economic front.
He also said the two countries agreed to further enhance the existing defence cooperation.
Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, the ambassador said there are many similarities between that and Japan’s views on the Indo-Pacific region.
He said the Japanese side appreciated the idea but it is a “little premature” to evaluate the outlook at the moment.
During the summit meeting in Tokyo, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio welcomed the initiation of negotiations concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology, recognising future potential.
They decided to “elevate” the bilateral relationship to a “Strategic Partnership” as a guiding principle to lead the two countries’ journey into the next 50 years and beyond.
Also read: Japan can mediate to return the Rohingyas back to Myanmar: PM Hasina
Both leaders shared the determination to enhance cooperation specifically in three major areas: cooperation for peace and stability in the region and beyond, deepening economic cooperation for mutual benefit and regional prosperity, and expansion of cultural cooperation and people to people exchanges.
At the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina made an official visit to Japan and had a summit meeting on April 26.
Bangladesh, Japan sign MoC to deepen partnership in various areas of ICT
Bangladesh and Japan has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to deepen partnership in different areas of ICT, including innovation and research, the digital economy, cyber security, and fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies to accelerate Bangladesh's journey towards building a knowledge-based Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
The MoC was signed between the governments of Bangladesh and Japan in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office.
Under the agreements, both Bangladesh and Japan would foster deeper partnership in various areas of ICT, including cooperation in human resources development, innovation and research, digital literacy, the digital economy, cyber security, and promoting 4IR technologies, sharing the most recent developments in the ICT sector, according to a press release by the ICT Division.
State Minister of ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh IWAMA Kiminori put initials on the MoC on behalf of their respective sides.
The two countries will cooperate with each other to prevent and respond to the fast-growing cyber incidents and exchange of information on prevalent cyber security policies and best practices, and arrange dialogue to discuss current issues on this issue, the MoC said adding they would cooperate to build capacity of human resources and exchange experts.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said the MoC signed today with the technologically advanced country, Japan, is a milestone development in the journey towards building a sustainable, knowledge-based and innovative Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
Read more: Dhaka-Tokyo friendship is flourishing for mutual benefits: PM Hasina
“We have reached an understanding to work together in various areas of ICT such as human resources development, innovation and research, the digital economy, digital literacy, cyber security, and the use of 4IR technologies,” he said.
Palak said Japanese cooperation is very important in all the above-mentioned areas, especially for implementing Smart Bangladesh within the stipulated time.
Japan is Bangladesh's top development partner and it is helping the nation’s advance in fields including infrastructure, manufacturing technology and human resources, he said pointing out that the government in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already made a `Smart Bangladesh: ICT 2041 Master Plan.
The ICT State Minister said with the signing of the MoC, Bangladesh would now seek cooperation and suggestions from Japan to undertake and implement projects in line with the Smart Bangladesh: ICT 2041 Master Plan and about the use of 4IR technologies like AI, IoT, robotics, 3D printing that would shape several sectors of Bangladesh in the future health, education, energy, communication, commerce, economy, climate, infrastructure, natural resources, governance, financial transactions, security and entrepreneurship.
As per the MoC, Bangladesh and Japan would also work together in the international arena to promote implementation of the UNGGE reports of 2013, 2015 and 2021 by reaffirming the applicability of international law in cyberspace as well as by appropriately conducting Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and extending capacity building.
Dhaka-Tokyo friendship is flourishing for mutual benefits: PM Hasina
Bangladesh and Japan are currently enjoying a very friendly relationship and the friendship is getting deeper day by day, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday.
She made the remarks to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi who called on her at the bilateral meeting room of Akasaka Palace Guest House in Tokyo.
PM’s deputy press secretary KM Shakhwat Moon briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said Hasina and the Japanese foreign minister praised the friendly relationship existing between Bangladesh and Japan.
They observed that the friendship is gradually increasing.
PM Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh-Japan relations emanate from the unwavering support of Japanese people for the cause of the independence of Bangladesh.
She mentioned that Japan recognised Bangladesh soon after its independence on February 10, 1972.
“Last year (2022), we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between our two countries,” she was quoted as saying.
The Bangladesh premier thanked the government and the people of Japan for their part in the elaborate celebrations, which further strengthened bilateral ties and people-to-people bonds.
Read more: Bangladesh & Japan elevate bilateral relations to strategic partnership: PM Hasina
Expressing happiness to undertake her sixth visit to Japan as the prime minister of Bangladesh, she recalled her visit to Japan in 1997, when the two countries observed the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relations.
She recalled the official visit of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan on 18-24 October 1973, which laid the rock-solid foundation for today's exemplary Bangladesh-Japan relations.
“Bangabandhu was an ardent admirer of Japan's development model and was inspired to build his own war-ravaged country with Japan's experience,” she said.
Hasina said Japan is the largest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh. “Japan's contribution is evident in major development initiatives being undertaken in Bangladesh,” she said.
She thanked Japan for sustained and generous support over the years to Bangladesh's socio-economic advancement.
She said Bangladesh counts on Japan's continued support and cooperation to turn Bangladesh into a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041 as per the Vision-2041.
The Bangladesh PM sought Japan’s support in its bid to become a vice-president of the Asian Development Bank.
She also sought Japan's support, as a Council member country of the IMO, for Bangladesh's candidature for IMO Secretary General Post as its election would be held on 17-18 July 2023 in London.
Japanese FM Yoshimasa highly appreciated the ongoing development of Bangladesh in every sector including agriculture, education, ICT and health under the leadership of PM Hasina. “You are advancing your country,” he said.
Read more: Summit talks between Bangladesh and Japanese PMs underway in Tokyo
He said that Japan was always beside Bangladesh for its development and will remain in the future.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, and State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak were present.
Besides, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Tanaka Akihiko, Chairman of Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial & Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman and CEO of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Ishiguro Norihiko and President of Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL) Taro Aso separately met Sheikh Hasina at her palace of residence --Akasaka Palace—here on Wednesday.
Bangladesh & Japan elevate bilateral relations to strategic partnership: PM Hasina
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.
Read more: Summit talks between Bangladesh and Japanese PMs underway in Tokyo
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).
PM Hasina gets red carpet welcome on arrival in Tokyo
A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Tokyo Tuesday afternoon on a four-day official visit at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
On arrival at Haneda International Airport at 4:45pm local time (BD Time 1:45pm), the premier was received by Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs YAMADA Kenji. She was given static guard of honour at the airport.
From the airport, Hasina was taken to the Akasaka Palace. On her way to the Palace, both sides of road was decorated with the flags of two friendly countries --Bangladesh and Japan to welcome the Bangladesh premier.
Also Read: PM Hasina reaches Tokyo to begin four-day official visit to Japan
Earlier, A VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:56am (BD time) for Tokyo.
Sheikh Hasina will stay in Tokyo till April 28 on the first leg of her two-week tri-nation official visit to Japan, the USA and the UK.
As per the foreign ministry officials, during her visit Bangladesh and Japan are likely to sign eight memorandums of cooperation (MoCs) or agreements including one on defence cooperation without purchase.
The MoCs or agreements would be signed during a meeting between the two Prime Ministers (Sheikh Hasina and Kishida Fumio) of the friendly countries on April 26.
Eight MoCs or deals are likely to be signed between the two countries in the sectors of agriculture, metro-rail, industrial up-gradation, ship recycling, customs matters, intellectual property, defense cooperation, ICT and cyber security cooperation etc in presence of the two leaders after the formal bilateral meeting between the heads of government of the two countries at the Prime Minister's Office of Japan.
Also Read: PM Hasina off to Tokyo on first leg of a two-week official visit to Japan, USA and UK
PM Hasina will have a courtesy call on Emperor of Japan Naruhito on April 26 and a guard of honour will be given to the Bangladesh Prime Minister there.
The formalities of the meeting will conclude with a dinner hosted at the residence of the Prime Minister of Japan in honor of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
This is the sixth visit of PM Hasina to Japan. Earlier, the PM visited Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
During the visit, the PM is scheduled to attend an investment summit and a community reception along with a few bilateral meetings.
She will also hand over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to a few Japanese nationals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The prime minister is expected to return home on May 09 after visiting the USA and then the UK.
PM opens VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal Int’l Airport
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday inaugurated the newly constructed VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
She opened the VVIP terminal in the morning before she flew for Tokyo on the first leg of her two-week tri-nation official visit to Japan, the USA and the UK.
Also Read: PM Hasina reaches Tokyo to begin four-day official visit to Japan
Unveiling the screen of the terminal’s plaque, the premier joined a munajat. Cabinet members and high government officials were present.
Sheikh Hasina is now visiting Japan from April 25 to 28 at the invitation of Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio.
Also Read: PM Hasina off to Tokyo on first leg of a two-week official visit to Japan, USA and UK
She is expected to return home on May 9 after visiting the USA and the UK.
Lack of security for Japanese prime minister surprised many
The fishermen who tackled the man suspected of the second attack on a Japanese political leader in less than a year were surprised by the lack of security for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Fisherman Tsutomu Konishi was watching Kishida at a campaign event at this fishing port when an object flew overhead and landed near the prime minister, Konishi said. A security officer covered the object with a bulletproof briefcase, Konishi said. The fishermen swarmed the attacker.
“I never thought a crime like this would happen in my hometown, which is a rather small fishing area,” Konishi, 41, said Sunday as he sipped a can of coffee at the port of Saikazaki. “I’m still shocked and stunned."
The prime minister was unhurt but like many others in Japan, Konishi was mulling Sunday what the country should do to better protect public figures.
“At a time when Japan’s serving prime minister was visiting, perhaps we may have needed a metal detector,” Konishi said.
Masaki Nishide, a 55-year-old fisherman from Saikazaki, said most of the people at Saturday’s event were residents and supporters of the local candidate. He said the young man carrying the silver-gray backpack stood out.
Also Read: Japanese PM unhurt after blast during campaign event
“People here all dress like me, and nobody carries a backpack; it was only him,” Nishide said, wearing a sweatsuit and red rubber boots. “If I were in charge of security, I would have asked for a bag check.”
After the failed attack on the prime minister, one of the fishermen grabbed the suspect's neck from behind, another pushed his head down, and Konishi latched onto his leg. They were holding the man as police officers pulled him to the ground.
The chaotic scene was reminiscent of the assassination nine months ago of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which prompted police to tighten their protective measures after an investigation found holes in Abe’s security. Abe, one of Japan’s most influential and divisive politicians, was killed with a homemade gun during a campaign speech.
Also Read: Explosion at Japan port during PM Kishida visit, no injuries
Suspect Tetsuya Yamagami has been charged with murder and several other crimes, including violating gun-control laws.
Authorities have said Yamagami told investigators he killed Abe because of the former prime minister’s apparent links to a religious group that Yamagami hated. In statements and in social media postings attributed to him, Yamagami said his mother's donations to the Unification Church bankrupted his family and ruined his life.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, and with its strict gun control laws, the country has only a handful of gun-related crimes annually. Most of the cases are gang-related, though in recent years there has been growing concern about homemade guns and explosives. There also have been some high-profile cases of random knifing on subways and arson attacks.
Groups of several officers have guarded serving prime ministers. Fewer officers have been watching Cabinet ministers and former leaders.
Compared with the U.S. elections, audience at political campaigns in Japan are often allowed to be quite close to dignitaries. At the campaign event for Kishida the front-row audience was within touching distance.
Only one person, a police official, was hurt, his arm cut by fragments of the device, which didn't fully explode. Police arrested 24-year-old Ryuji Nakamura on suspicion of throwing an explosive in a metal tube at Kishida.
Police sent a special counter-explosives team to the suspect's home in Hyogo prefecture to search for evidence of bomb-making. There are nationwide local elections this month. and Japan is hosting a series of Group of Seven meetings leading up to the May 19-21 leaders' summit in Hiroshima. Diplomats arrived Sunday for the G-7 foreign ministers' meeting in Karuizawa.
Isao Itabashi, a public safety expert, said on NHK TV that the attack raised questions about how election campaigns are being handled. Guarding top politicians in campaigns is logistically hard, and balancing tight security with a free election is also difficult, he said.
Kiyotaka Hamada, 70, a senior member of the local fishing association, said he felt something hit his shoulder just as he heard the bang and was running from the scene. Police took his jacket to see if he'd been hit by a fragment of the explosive.
“I just want to ask the suspect why he had to come here to make trouble," he said.
For Hamada and other fishermen, there's worry also about the expected loss of income from the days they cannot work while the port facilities are closed for the investigation.
“We put so much effort throughout the village to welcome the prime minister here on his first ever visit,” Hamada said. “Now we cannot even go out to sea.”
PM Hasina to visit Japan on April 25-28
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be on an official visit to Japan from April 25 to 28, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
A number of memorandums of cooperation are expected to be signed during the PM's official visit.
Both the governments of Bangladesh and Japan hope that this visit will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
Japan wants to elevate the bilateral ties with Bangladesh to a "strategic" level, adding more elements like defence and security areas to the growing relations.
Read: 5th Japan-Bangladesh Public-Pvt Joint Economic Dialogue held online with calls for more investment
The two countries now have a comprehensive partnership and Japan intends to elevate it.
This will be the sixth visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan.
Earlier, she visited Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
During her stay in Japan, the Prime Minister will be received by the Emperor of Japan.
Prime Minister Fumio will hold a summit meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister and then host a working dinner in her honour.
Read: Bangladesh to play vital role in Japan's vision for Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Ambassador
During the visit, the PM is scheduled to attend an investment summit and a community reception along with a few bilateral meetings.
She will also hand over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to a few Japanese nationals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister is likely to visit the US and UK after wrapping up her Japan visit but there is no official announcement yet regarding the US and UK visits.
The Prime Minister has been invited to attend the coronation of UK's King Charles III, to be hosted by the Buckingham Palace on May 6.
Read More: Pranay Verma highlights “deep bonds of friendship, cooperation” with Bangladesh
She is likely to travel to Washington DC to attend a programme on May 1 to celebrate 50 years of partnership between Bangladesh and the World Bank.