Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in a joint statement issued on Monday affirmed deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in peacekeeping and peace-building efforts across the globe.
The 21-point joint statement came after a summit-level talk at Japanese PM’s office on Monday. Hasina is now in Japan on a four-day official tour of Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Abe offered assistance to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the field of peacekeeping and peace-building training. Prime Minister Hasina expressed her deep appreciation for the support and cooperation of Japan.
Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to share Japan’s experience, including dispatching experts for the proposed project of establishing a Peace Building Center in Bangladesh.
He also praised Bangladesh’s contribution to peacekeeping and peace-building efforts across the globe.
The two Prime Ministers exchanged their equivocal concern for the acceleration of economic development and poverty reduction in Bangladesh.
In this regard, the two Prime Ministers appreciated the signing of the Exchange of Notes concerning the 35th yen loan package projects worth 120 billion yen, which was pledged by Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to Bangladesh in March 2014.
Prime Minister Hasina said she expects Japan’s cooperation in a range of specific projects, including the construction of Ganges Barrage, multi-modal tunnel under river Jamuna, dedicated Railway Bridge over the Jamuna River, multi-modal Dhaka Eastern Bypass and ecological restoration of four rivers around Dhaka.
The two Prime Ministers decided to strengthen policy dialogue in carrying out cooperation for development.
The two countries shared their intention to closely collaborate and cooperate in project formulation and implementation. Prime Minister Hasina welcomed the proposal of Prime Minister Abe on dispatch of a mission to identify and discuss with the Bangladeshi side details of economic cooperation in this regard.
The two Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of integrated approaches for the protection, promotion and development of marine natural resources and all marine sectors in the adjoining oceans and seas, in accordance with international law.
They also shared the intention to deepen cooperation on creating sustainable employment for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries from the perspectives of ocean-based economy.
Sheikh Hasina sought Japan’s cooperation in capacity building in nuclear safety and security.
In this regard, the two Prime Ministers decided to launch a new dialogue between experts on peaceful and safe uses of nuclear energy in Bangladesh, in which Japan will share the experience and lessons learned from the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh and Japan launched the ‘Japan – Bangladesh Comprehensive Partnership’ today, recognising the long-standing relations between the two countries based on shared values of peace, democracy, human rights and rule of law.
Both affirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation by elevating the friendly relationship to a new height.
Source: UNBConnect