Japan is a trusted friend of Bangladesh

THE foreign relations synopsis prepared and handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan lists two political goals in the country's relationship with Bangladesh. One is to gain support in Japan's bid to join the United Nations Security Council and another is to secure markets for its finished products. It is the first goal that is believed to be the reason why Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe is visiting Bangladesh. He is hoping to obtain Bangladesh's commitment to vote for his country so that it will win the UN slot.  

It is said that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Japan last May had hinted that she should be able to give her counterpart some good news when he visits Bangladesh. The diplomatic observers are convinced that Bangladesh is inclined to support the Japanese candidacy and that is what Prime Minister Abe is going to hear when he is in Dhaka.

If that happens, it will be Bangladesh's opportunity to show its gratitude to a trusted and tested friend which has been amongst the first countries to recognize its independence. Japan also has been one of the largest donor countries and a significant source of development aid to Bangladesh. By 2004, Japan had become Bangladesh's fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment, behind the United States, United Kingdom, and Malaysia.

There are more reasons why Bangladesh owes it to Japan. The Japanese Embassy figures as at December 2013 show that the trade relations between the two countries have made significant progress in last five years. Export to Japan rose by 2.5 times between 2009 and 2013. The apparel export to Japan from Bangladesh has multiplied by as many as 20 times and the number of Japanese companies doing business in Bangladesh grew by 2.47 times. Japan is Bangladesh's 11th-largest export market; imports from Bangladesh make up 26% of all Japanese imports from the least developed countries, second only to those from Cambodia.

What are the odds facing Bangladesh if it takes the Japanese side in the UN election? The most recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan is an indication that even of India does no go all out for the Japanese cause in the United Nations; it will not at least ruffle feathers with it either. India is eying a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and US President Barack Obama's assurance to back the country on this issue. India has nothing to lose if Japan wins in its UN bid.

How is Bangladesh going to deal with China, which has every reason to resist Japan's accession to the Security Council? Since 2012, China and Japan have been drawn into a bitter conflict over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which continues to be a thorn in their side. Bangladesh Prime minister visited China June this year and said in a press conference after her return that she thought after Japan her visit to China was also very successful. During that visit, Dhaka and Beijing have signed six instruments for execution of different projects. Both sides have agreed for Chinese support for five more projects at a total cost of USD5 billion. One would expect that Bangladesh must have broached the Japanese issue with the Chinese leaders and got their buy in already since the Prime Minister visited China after she visited Japan.

The writer is Editor of weekly First News and an opinion writer for The Daily Star. Email: badrul151@yahoo.com