Japan ‘looks to take ties with BD to new height’

Voicing satisfaction over the growing ties with Bangladesh, Japan has reiterated its commitment to take the relationship to a new height, reports UNB.

At the request of the Japanese side, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam held a meeting with the Vice Foreign Minister of Japan Kazuyuki Nakane in Male on Monday on the sidelines of the 'Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Independence of Maldives'.

During the meeting, the Japanese vice foreign minister observed that the two countries have already started reaping the benefits of it, and the First Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries held in Dhaka on February 5, 2015 was a demonstration of such elevated relationship, said a foreign ministry press release in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The vice minister mentioned that the government of Japan remained firmly involved in implementing the 'Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt' or BIG-B initiatives taken between the two countries during the successful return visit to Bangladesh by the Japanese Prime Minster Sinzo Abe in September, 2014.

He also applauded the present government's efforts in combating terrorism and extremism.

Shahriar Alam thanked the Japanese government for further relaxation of the rules of origin for Bangladesh knitwear products' export to Japan.

He also expressed sincere thanks for continued Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) and for Japanese Yen 600 billion to ensure robust economic progress. While congratulating Japan on winning the bid for hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Shahriar Alam appreciated Japan's invitation for Bangladesh construction workers to participate in the 'Foreign Construction Worker Acceptance Program' for 2020 Olympic and Paralympics, and for the reconstruction work in the Great East tsunami devastated area under Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP).