Japan invites PM to Tokyo, pledge to deepen strategic ties

Japan on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit Tokyo as both sides agreed to deepen bilateral strategic partnership in a wide range of areas including defence, trade, investment, energy, and skilled manpower.

Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Namazu Hiroyuki conveyed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's request to Tarique Rahman to visit Japan at a mutually convenient time during the 7th Bangladesh-Japan Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Dhaka, said a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry.

Japan also invited Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman to visit the country in his capacity as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Bangladesh, in turn, invited Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi to pay an official visit to Dhaka at a suitable time, according to a foreign ministry press release.

Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam and Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Hiroyuki led their respective delegations at the consultations.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further consolidating and deepening the Bangladesh-Japan Strategic Partnership and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation across a broad range of areas.

They held comprehensive discussions on high-level exchanges, trade and investment, energy security and green energy, the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) Initiative and defence cooperation.

The Foreign Secretary expressed hope that the EPA would help boost Japanese investment in Bangladesh and sought Tokyo's continued cooperation in expanding bilateral trade and investment as well as promoting renewable energy and sustainable development.

He acknowledged Japan's contribution to Bangladesh's development through 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.

Hiroyuki reaffirmed Japan's continued cooperation with Bangladesh under the EPA, BIG-B Initiative and Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework, while welcoming the recent handover of five patrol boats to the Bangladesh Navy.

Official Security Assistance (OSA) is a Japanese government framework used to provide military equipment, supplies, and infrastructure development to the armed forces or defence organizations of partner nations. Distinct from traditional socio-economic development aid, it aims to boost deterrence capabilities, improve regional stability, and deepen strategic security cooperation.

Hiroyuki also recognised the foundation of the longstanding Bangladesh-Japan friendship laid by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and briefed the Bangladesh side on Japan's vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).

The two sides stressed further strengthening people-to-people ties, particularly by expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi Specified Skilled Workers in Japan and increasing educational, cultural and civil society exchanges.

Siam requested Japan to undertake more exchange programmes, noting their importance in fostering greater mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

On the Rohingya crisis, the Foreign Secretary highlighted the humanitarian and socio-economic burden on Bangladesh from hosting more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

He reiterated Dhaka's position that safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar remained the only viable and lasting solution to the crisis and thanked Japan for its continued humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues and reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and closer cooperation in multilateral fora.

They agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support on global issues of common interest.

The next Bangladesh-Japan Foreign Office Consultations are expected to be held in Tokyo in 2027.