Japan-Bangladesh Relations
Japan-Bangladesh Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
July 14, 2023
On July 14, commencing at 2:35 p.m. local time (July 14, 4:35 p.m. Japan Time) for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visiting Indonesia to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, held a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with H.E. Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi welcomed the elevation of bilateral relations to "Strategic Partnership" during Prime Minister Hasina's visit to Japan in April and the further development of bilateral relations in a wide range of areas, and expressed his desire to work closely together to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).” In response, Minister Momen expressed his gratitude for the great success of Prime Minister Hasina's visit to Japan, and expressed his desire to steadily follow up on the items decided at the summit meeting.
- As a follow-up to the April summit meeting, Minister Hayashi stated that Japan would make progress in security cooperation, including negotiations toward the conclusion of the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and use of the "Official Security Assistance (OSA)," as well as cooperation in the economic field through improvement of the investment environment. Minister Hayashi also welcomed the signing of Exchange of Note for a budget support loan of 30 billion yen and the bilateral policy discussions on development cooperation as a follow-up to the Summit Meeting, and expressed his intention to promote cooperation under the “Industrial Value Chain” concept in the Bay of Bengal and North Eastern Region of India. In response, Minister Momen expressed his gratitude for Japan's support.
- Minister Hayashi explained the outcome of the G7 Hiroshima Summit and stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law. Regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water, Minister Hayashi also explained Japan’s efforts to date and that the IAEA’s Comprehensive Report concluded that the discharge is consistent with relevant international safety standards from a scientific perspective and will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.
- Minister Hayashi spoke on regional issues such as cooperation in the international arena, displaced persons from Rakhine State, Myanmar, and the response to North Korea on the nuclear and missile issues, including an ICBM-class ballistic missile launched by North Korea on July 12, as well as the abductions issue. The two ministers confirmed to continue cooperation.