Accra:State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir stated that Bangladesh aims to strengthen bilateral relations, deepen economic partnerships, and increase investment during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's upcoming visit to Japan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, these priorities were outlined by Humaiun Kobir after attending a seminar focused on reimagining Bangladesh's relations with Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Rahman is scheduled to embark on a four-day visit to Japan starting October 26.
During the visit, Bangladesh plans to focus on trade, investment, and development partnerships across various sectors. The country seeks reciprocal investment partnerships with nations globally, with clearly defined areas of cooperation.
Japan is recognized as one of Bangladesh's significant and longstanding development partners, with Japanese investments in several major projects strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. Humaiun Kobir highlighted that a previous energy summit in Japan, attended virtually by the Prime Minister as an invited guest, had further bolstered Japanese confidence in Bangladesh.
The visit will include detailed discussions on sector-specific cooperation and opportunities for reciprocal investment. Additionally, Humaiun Kobir mentioned that the Prime Minister has accepted an invitation from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince to visit the Kingdom, with plans for the trip to be arranged soon. The Saudi Crown Prince has also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's position on protecting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah was also reaffirmed, with Humaiun Kobir stating the country's readiness to support initiatives to protect these sites if requested. The seminar where these remarks were made was organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and the Center for Migration Studies of North South University, featuring various prominent speakers.