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Japan has reaffirmed its continued cooperation with Bangladesh under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), BIG-B Initiative and Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework, while welcoming the recent handover of five patrol boats to the Bangladesh Navy.
The commitment came during the seventh Bangladesh-Japan Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Dhaka on Wednesday, where the two countries held comprehensive and forward-looking discussions on bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest.
The talks covered trade and investment, energy security, renewable energy, the EPA, the BIG-B Initiative and defence cooperation.
The two sides also discussed expanding people-to-people ties, creating more opportunities for Bangladeshi skilled workers in Japan, the Rohingya crisis, regional and global developments, and cooperation through multilateral forums, including the United Nations.
Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Namazu Hiroyuki conveyed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit Japan at a mutually convenient time, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He also invited Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman to visit Japan in his capacity as president of the 81st UN General Assembly. Bangladesh, meanwhile, invited Prime Minister Takaichi to pay an official visit to Dhaka.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and Namazu led their respective delegations at the consultations.
The meeting reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to further consolidating the Bangladesh-Japan Strategic Partnership and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation across a wide range of areas.
Namazu also briefed the Bangladesh delegation on Japan’s vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
The Bangladesh side highlighted the progress made in bilateral relations and expressed hope for further deepening and broadening the Strategic Partnership.
The foreign secretary said the EPA could help increase Japanese investment in Bangladesh and sought Tokyo’s continued support for expanding bilateral trade and investment, promoting renewable energy and advancing sustainable development.
He also acknowledged Japan’s development assistance under the BIG-B Initiative, including the Matarbari Deep Sea Port and Power Project, Dhaka Metro Rail and the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties, including expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi Specified Skilled Workers in Japan and increasing educational, cultural and civil society exchanges.
On the Rohingya crisis, the foreign secretary highlighted the humanitarian and socioeconomic burden Bangladesh faces in hosting more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
He reiterated Bangladesh’s position that their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar remains the only viable and lasting solution. He also thanked Japan for its continued humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas.
The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and stronger cooperation in multilateral forums.
The next round of Bangladesh-Japan Foreign Office Consultations is expected to be held in Tokyo in 2027.