PM Expresses Her Confidence Of Strengthening Bilateral Ties With Japan

"We look forward to taking full advantage of the opportunities provided by our "Comprehensive Partnership" approach," she said in a banquet given in honour of visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Madame Akie Abe at Hotel Sonargaon here this evening.

Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh is working on the setting up of a special economic zone exclusively for Japanese investors and helping them to relocate or start their industries.

She expressed her happiness as a high-powered business delegation is accompanying Abe during his Dhaka visit. She hoped that Japanese business delegation have got some first-hand impression about the business opportunities, competitive investment incentive package offered and the friendly investment climate prevailing in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said she is deeply honoured to welcome Prime Minister Abe, Madame Abe and the Japanese delegation to Bangladesh, and expressed her sincere appreciation for visiting Bangladesh so soon after her visit to Japan.

She fondly recalled with deep satisfaction the warm hospitality extended to her and her entourage during the visit.

Sheikh Hasina recalled with gratitude the firm support and empathy extended to Bangladesh by the people and the government of Japan during the War of Liberation in 1971.

The historic visit to Japan by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1973 truly reflected our national sentiment towards the Japanese government and people. Since then, the bilateral bonds between the two countries have grown gradually, she said.

Bangladesh Prime Minister said she had very cordial and successful official talks with Prime Minister Abe. She said they discussed various ways and means to further broaden cooperation and partnership in economic, social and cultural sectors between the two countries and continue the momentum of the mutual engagement resulting from the discussion in Tokyo in May last and now in Dhaka.

Sheikh Hasina said as a close friend of Bangladesh, Abe is well aware of the socioeconomic progress Bangladesh has made in last few years. The present government has been working guided by "Vision-2021", to raise the country to a new level of development by building a hunger-free peaceful "Golden Bangla" a dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Our long-term aspiration is to make Bangladesh a "Developed Nation" by the year 2041. As we progress along our journey ahead, I firmly believe that, like in the past, Japan would remain steadfast as our trusted and active partner," she said.

As an Asian neighbour, Bangladesh takes great pride in Japan's position as one of the largest economies in the world, she added.

She recalled that Father of the Nation used to say Japan as a model country for Bangladesh to follow in order to secure economic emancipation of his people through gradually turning the agrarian society into an industrialized nation.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Japan have common values of democracy, human rights and rule of law and committed to maintaining peace and stability at regional and global level.

Both the countries also share similar views on various international issues and support each other in different international forums and the two countries are important contributors to the UN peacekeeping and peace-building operations, and champions of global peace and stability, she said. The banquet was followed by an attractive cultural programme performed by noted artistes.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)