Dhaka, Tokyo for ‘strategic partnership’
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh and Japan now have an ideal opportunity to take bilateral relations to new heights through closer and deeper "strategic partnership".
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and late Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan, elevated the relationship to a "comprehensive partnership" in 2014, he said.
Momen was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the second International Hybrid Conference on "Japanology in New Era", organised by the Department of Japanese Studies, University of Dhaka at the institution's Senate Auditorium yesterday.
"Our excellent bilateral relations have been enriched in content and dimension in recent years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who visited Japan five times," said the foreign minister.
The PM is likely to visit Japan in April this year.
After Japan's prompt recognition of Bangladesh's independence on February 10, 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook a historic visit to Japan in October 1973 and laid the foundation of today's exemplary bilateral relations, Momen said.
Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, vice chancellor of DU, chaired the discussion.
Iwama Kiminori, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh; Shahabuddin Ahmed, ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan; Nobuhiko Sasaki, chairperson and CEO of Jetro; and Hideki Hara, managing director of Japan Foundation, among others, spoke.
Momen said Japan has been a household name in Bangladesh due to its amazing economic progress, advanced science and technology, unique culture, disciplined lifestyle and work ethics, and long history, but most importantly, the kind of affinity and sympathy that the Japanese people feel for Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh always reciprocated that feeling. We express solidarity and empathise with the Japanese people when they are troubled with natural calamities like earthquakes, landslides, typhoons, or floods," Momen said.
He encouraged the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, public and private universities, and other relevant entities to take Bangladesh's art, culture and colourful traditions to Japan.