Diplomatic Correspondent

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan reached a new height with wider and deeper cooperation through the just-concluded visit of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to Tokyo.

"Our relations with Japan have reached a new height through the Chief Adviser’s visit and the bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister," Alam told reporters in Tokyo on Friday night.

Chief Adviser Professor Yunus, who is scheduled to return home tonight (Saturday night) had a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on May 30.

The Press Secretary said Japan stood by Bangladesh following the unprecedented mass uprising in July and August.

During a very cordial meeting with the Chief Adviser on Friday, the Japanese Prime Minister reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to stand beside Bangladesh in the coming days.

The Japanese Prime Minister also announced a commitment of $1.063 billion to Bangladesh for budget support and railway development.

“It will support the government’s efforts to revive the economy, especially as the autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina fled the country, leaving the state coffers empty,” he said.

Alam said Japan is also providing five patrol boats to the Bangladesh Navy.

He mentioned that a wide range of issues were discussed during the meeting, and that the Japanese side expressed interest in making bilateral relations more multidimensional by expanding cooperation in many areas.

Japan also expressed its intention to support improvements in Bangladesh’s voter registration and other electoral processes.

The press secretary said the Japanese side also appreciated Bangladesh’s role in the Indo-Pacific region. "We hope that Bangladesh's relations with Japan will reach even greater heights in the future."

Both sides held in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest in a candid manner.

Prime Minister Ishiba reiterated Japan’s full support to the interim government of Bangladesh led by Professor Yunus for its nation-building efforts, its reform initiatives and its endeavour towards a peaceful transition in Bangladesh.

Professor Yunus expressed gratitude to the government of Japan for its continued support to foster sustainable economic growth and development in Bangladesh in advancing Japan-Bangladesh bilateral relations, especially for the projects under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) Initiative, including Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI).

In this regard, both sides welcomed the signing of the Exchange of Notes for the Development Policy Loan for Economic Reform and Strengthening Climate Change Resilience, and the Loan for the Project for the Construction of Dual Gauge Double Line Between Joydebpur-Ishurdi Section (I).

Recalling the long-standing friendship since the independence of Bangladesh, both sides reaffirmed their commitments to the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

They also reiterated their shared vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) to ensure peace, stability and shared prosperity for all.

Both sides held discussions on international and regional matters and reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation for ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond, upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter.

They also affirmed their support to multilateralism based on the rule of law, as well as to democracy.Prof Yunus expressed sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Ishiba and the people of Japan for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation, and invited Prime Minister Ishiba to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.