Expressing her government’s earnest desire to consolidate the partnership with Japan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday sought greater Japanese support for Bangladesh’s bid to build a knowledge-based nation, develop rich human resources and undertake massive infrastructure development projects.
“We want to build a knowledge-based nation, develop our rich human resources and undertake massive infrastructural development (projects) where Japan can contribute further,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing a dinner hosted by her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at his official residence.
Hasina said Japan can also support the inclusion of international migration and the security of climate vulnerable countries as Bangladesh in the post-2015 UN Development Agenda.
Mentioning that Japan has been Bangladesh’s trusted and time-tested friend, the Prime Minister recalled with gratitude that even when Japan was reeling from one of its worst natural disasters in March 2011, it never deviated from the flow of development assistance to Bangladesh. “It’s our earnest desire to consolidate the partnership with Japan.”
Citing that a visit by her Japanese counterpart to Bangladesh would energise this momentum to reach its goal, Hasina extended Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Madam Akie Abe a very warm invitation to pay a visit to Bangladesh anytime convenient to them, hopefully within this year.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Japan enjoy an enviable relationship that stems from the two countries inherent belief in friendship, mutual support, and peaceful coexistence.
In this connection, she said the foundation of this relationship was laid at the time of the Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971 through the unstinting support and the sympathy of Japan and its people.
“I remember that during the hours of our distress, even the schoolchildren in Japan saved, collected and contributed their pocket money to bring relief from our miseries. Our people remember these gestures with deep gratitude, even to this day. This was why Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman decided to visit Japan at the earliest opportunity in October 1973.” Hasina recalled.
After that historic visit, Hasina also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Mujib, said the two countries’ relationship deepened remarkably with Japan becoming Bangladesh’s largest development partner and very important source of foreign direct investment.
“Our admiration of the resilient Japanese people and the nation’s phenomenal growth out of the ashes of the Second World War has made Japan a role model of development,” she observed.
Hasina noted that Japan continues to move with a greater zeal and energy inspired by the Japanese PM’s bold economic reform initiatives or “Abenomics”.
“This augurs well for Japan and its friends as Bangladesh, and the world. Our two countries’ friendship is also reflected in all international gatherings where we’ve cooperated, shared common positions, and supported each other’s cause,” she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is moving forward to become a middle-income country by 2021.
During the last five years, she noted, that Bangladesh have either met or are on track to meet MDG-1 to MDG-6 by 2015, maintained an average GDP growth rate of over 6 percent; added 51 million people to the middle-income group; attained self-sufficiency in food; raised per capita income by 67 percent; reached ICT services all across the country; attained huge progress in health and education.
Hasina also said today’s extremely fruitful discussion on all spheres of bilateral relations has gained a significant momentum.
The Prime Minister said she was delighted to be once again in ‘Nippon, the Land of the Rising Sun’. Among her many memorable visits to this great country, the last was in March 2010.
Source: UNBConnect
