Dhaka, Tokyo on Wednesday announced the elevation of the bilateral ties to “strategic” level as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida discussed the ways of connecting the Bay of Bengal and the neighbouring regions using the ongoing infrastructure projects in southern Bangladesh.
“It is always a pleasure to be in Japan-a beautiful country that is close to my heart,” Hasina said at the beginning of her summit with Kishida and later during the joint statement at the Japan Prime Minister’s Office.
"Prime Minister Kishida and I have discussed today the entire gamut of our bilateral relations. We are happy that Bangladesh and Japan have successfully elevated the bilateral relations to a "Strategic Partnership" from the existing "Comprehensive Partnership", she said.
Both leaders also witnessed the signing of eight deals that include cooperation in the areas of agriculture, metro rail, industrial upgrade, ship recycling, customs matters, intellectual properties, defence cooperation, ICT and cyber security cooperation.
They also discussed the Rohingya issue as Japan pledges to support Bangladesh in this regard.
Both leaders also announced the beginning of Dhaka, Tokyo direct flight within this year and taking steps in different areas to expand the relations further.
“We have also discussed the MIDI Initiative and BIG-B Initiative for development of Southern Bangladesh for connecting the Bay of Bengal and the neighbouring regions,” the prime minister Hasina said. MIDI initiative means Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative and BIG-B means the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B).
“Hasina and I should serve as the springboard to deepen our bilateral relations in different areas and to expand our cooperation in the international community,” PM Kishida said in his statement.
“We have affirmed our commitment to uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law as strategic partners at a time when the international order is at a historic turning point.”
The prime minister’s four-day official visit that began on Tuesday came at a time when Japan is focusing its foreign policy on developing countries. Japan is already the largest development partner of Bangladesh.
“We thank the government of Japan for being our one of the largest development partners. We are looking forward to concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in the days ahead,” Prime Minister Hasina said.
“I am confident that the excellent understanding, friendship and cooperation that exist between our two peoples and our governments would grow even stronger in the years ahead,” she said.
The first instrument that was exchanged between the two sides was a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) between the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan on agricultural cooperation for agricultural research and development and capacity building.
The second one was an agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters Cooperation to ensure the proper application of the customs laws; to prevent, investigate and repress any customs offense, and to take cooperative efforts for simplification and harmonization of customs procedures.
The third one was MOC between the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan on "Bangladesh-Japan Industrial Upgrading Partnership Cooperation to establish a framework to jointly explore the possibilities of upgrading Bangladesh's industries through promoting cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan at both government and private levels with a view to supporting trade performance and product diversification for smooth graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026 and ongoing efforts to be a developed country by 2041 in line with "Vision 2041".
The fourth one was Memorandum on Defence Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of Japan to promote and strengthen cooperation in the fields of defence dialogue, exchange of visits, education, training, courses, seminars, workshops, technology transfer, and any other agreed activities pertinent thereto.
The fifth one was Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh on Cooperation in the field of Metro Rail, Cooperation on metro rail policy, laws, and regulation; technology for infrastructure, rolling stocks and systems; safety policy and management and disaster prevention measures.
The sixth one was Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh in the field of Ship Recycling. The Bangladeshi side will make every effort to achieve required capabilities to accede and implement the Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships by the end of 2023.
The Japanese side will make every effort to provide support for the development of Bangladesh in the field of ship recycling, including the establishment of a Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility, and to assist Bangladesh to meet the requirements in provisions of the HKC.
The seventh Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan Patent Office and the Department of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on Intellectual Property Cooperation on promotion of comprehension on the intellectual property right (IPR) systems and practices by exchanging information and practices, promoting public awareness on the importance of IPR, improvement of the IPR systems to enhance the development of industry and innovation.
The eighth one was MOC in the Field of Information and Communication Technology including Cyber Security between ICT Division, Ministry of Posts Telecommunications and Information Technology and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida reiterated her country's support for Bangladesh in repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He said two countries have agreed to further strengthen the bilateral relations in a wide range of areas furthermore based on a new plan for free and open Indo-Pacific point announced last month.
“In the economic field, we agreed to make progress in joint studies on the possibilities of Japan- Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement," he said.
The Japanese Prime Minister said that Bangladesh with its remarkable economic development is an attractive investment destination and as such “it is our expectation that establishment of economic zones and improvement of the investment environment will further strengthen economic relations between the two countries.”
