Strengthening bilateral relations and economic partnership and increasing investment will be the main priorities of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s coming visit to Japan, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir has said.
He was speaking to journalists on Saturday after taking part in a seminar at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka titled “From labour force to strategic partnership: a new pattern of Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia relations”. “On the Japan visit our main priorities will be to strengthen bilateral relations, consolidate economic partnership and increase investment,” he said.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is going to Japan on a four-day visit on 26 October.
Humayun Kabir said that, in keeping with its contacts with other countries, Bangladesh would give priority on the Japan visit to trade, investment and development partnership in various sectors.
He said Bangladesh now wants mutual investment partnerships with countries around the world in specific areas of cooperation.
Describing Japan as one of Bangladesh’s largest and longest-standing development partners, he said Japanese investment in several mega projects had helped build strong diplomatic and investment ties between the two countries.
He recalled that in April, at the special invitation of Japan’s prime minister, Tarique Rahman joined an online conference convened by Japan on the energy crisis and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and stressed the need for the countries of the region to work together.
On a visit to Saudi Arabia, Humayun Kabir said the Saudi crown prince had invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit the country and the prime minister had accepted. He will make the visit soon, at a convenient time.
He said the Saudi crown prince had also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh, and Dhaka would give him a warm welcome at a mutually convenient time.
In reply to a question about the protection of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh’s position was clear and uncompromising. If cooperation or assistance is sought in any initiative to protect the holy places and mosques of the Muslim world, Bangladesh, as one of the world’s largest Muslim countries, will be ready to give the necessary help.
The seminar was organised jointly by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Center for Migration Studies of North South University (NSU).
Dr Md Nazrul Islam, secretary (bilateral) at the foreign ministry, and Md Mokhtar Ahmed, secretary for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment, spoke as special guests.
Maj Gen ASM Ridwanur Rahman, director general of BIISS, and Prof Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, vice-chancellor of NSU, also spoke.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report