Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday pledged strong support for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s nation-building efforts, saying Japan will work closely with Bangladesh to strengthen their strategic partnership and promote shared prosperity.
In a post on her official X account after their bilateral summit in Tokyo, Takaichi said she was pleased to personally congratulate Tarique on taking office, describing Bangladesh as a friend that shares the values of democracy and the rule of law.
“Japan will strongly support the nation-building efforts of the Rahman administration, which came to power following a democratic general election,” she said.
Takaichi said the two countries discussed bilateral cooperation in light of their shared values and Bangladesh’s importance to the realisation of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
She said they agreed to advance the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B), a key framework for bilateral cooperation, into a new strategic initiative called “BIG-B for Shared Prosperity.”
The Japanese Prime Minister said Tarique recalled Japan’s role as a peace-loving nation and its early recognition of Bangladesh’s independence.
She said her Bangladeshi counterpart also described Japan as a country that holds a special place in the hearts of the Bangladeshi people and expressed gratitude for the wide-ranging support and cooperation from the Japanese government and people.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s economic potential, Takaichi said the country is important to Japan’s economy because of its strategic position connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia and its large, young market of 170 million people.
Referring to the joint statement issued after their summit, she said the two countries will work together through government and private-sector initiatives under their strategic partnership.
“Together, we will grow stronger and more prosperous,” Takaichi said, pledging to work closely with Tarique to promote peace and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.
The two leaders held their summit at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Tuesday, the second day of Tarique’s four-day official visit to Japan, reports UNB.