Strengthening bilateral relations, consolidating economic partnerships and increasing investment will be the key priorities during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Japan, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir has said.

“Our main priorities during the Japan visit will be to strengthen bilateral relations, consolidate economic partnerships and increase investment,” he told journalists on Saturday after attending a seminar at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

The seminar was titled “From Labour Force to Strategic Partnership: A New Framework for Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Relations.”

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Japan on October 26 for a four-day trip.

Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh would prioritize trade, investment and development partnerships across various sectors during the Japan visit, continuing its engagement with other countries.

He said Bangladesh was now seeking mutually beneficial investment partnerships with countries around the world in specific areas of cooperation.

Describing Japan as one of Bangladesh’s largest and longstanding development partners, the state minister said Japanese investment in several mega projects had helped establish strong diplomatic and investment ties between the two countries.

He recalled that, at the special invitation of the Japanese prime minister, Tarique Rahman joined an online conference hosted by Japan last April to address energy challenges and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region. At the conference, the Bangladesh prime minister emphasized the need for countries in the region to work together.

According to Humayun Kabir, the engagement helped strengthen the Japanese government’s confidence in the Bangladesh prime minister.

He said the upcoming visit would also feature detailed discussions on sector-specific cooperation and opportunities for mutual investment.

Saudi Arabia Visit Also Planned

Regarding the prime minister’s proposed visit to Saudi Arabia, Humayun Kabir said the Saudi crown prince had invited Tarique Rahman to visit the kingdom and that the prime minister had accepted the invitation. He is expected to make the visit soon at a mutually convenient time.

The state minister added that the Saudi crown prince had also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh. Dhaka would warmly welcome him at a mutually convenient time, he said.

Asked about the protection of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh’s position on the issue was clear and uncompromising.

He said Bangladesh, as one of the world’s largest Muslim-majority countries, would be ready to provide necessary assistance if support or cooperation were sought for initiatives to protect the holy sites and mosques of the Muslim world.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Centre for Migration Studies at North South University (NSU).

Secretary for Bilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam and Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Mokhter Ahmed addressed the seminar as special guests.

BIISS Director General Major General A. S. M. Ridwanur Rahman and NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury also spoke at the event.

BSS