Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Japan will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, deepening economic partnerships and increasing investment, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Saturday.

"Our diplomatic relationship is strong, and our investment relationship is strong. Our main priorities during the Japan visit will be to strengthen bilateral relations, deepen economic partnerships and increase investment," he told reporters after attending a seminar titled “From Workforce to Strategic Partnership: Reimagining Bangladesh-KSA Relations”.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is likely to leave Dhaka for a four-day visit to Japan on October 26.

Earlier, Japan invited the Prime Minister to pay an official visit at a mutually convenient time, reaffirming Tokyo’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Dhaka.

In April, Bangladesh welcomed a Japan-led initiative to address energy issues more efficiently across Asia, noting that countries needed to work together as no single country could resolve the challenges alone.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined an online meeting at the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister.

Kobir said Bangladesh would prioritise trade, investment and development partnerships across various sectors during the visit, in line with its approach to engagement with other countries.

Bangladesh now seeks reciprocal investment partnerships with countries around the world in clearly defined areas of cooperation, he added.

Describing Japan as one of Bangladesh’s largest and longest-standing development partners, Kobir said Japanese investment in several mega projects had helped strengthen economic ties and the broader relationship between the two countries.

He recalled that the Prime Minister had previously joined an energy summit in Japan virtually at the invitation of the Japanese premier when the country was facing an energy crisis.

Kobir said the engagement had helped build the Japanese government’s confidence in Bangladesh’s Prime Minister.

The forthcoming visit would feature detailed discussions on sector-specific cooperation and opportunities for reciprocal investment, he added.

PM’s proposed Saudi visit

Regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to Saudi Arabia, Kobir said the Saudi Crown Prince had invited him to visit the Kingdom and that the Prime Minister had accepted the invitation.

“He has accepted and will do so at some point very soon,” he said.

The Saudi Crown Prince had also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh, Kobir said, adding that Dhaka would welcome him at a mutually convenient time.

Responding to a question about protecting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, Kobir said Bangladesh’s position is clear and uncompromising.

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

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

Foreign Ministry Secretary (Bilateral) Dr Md Nazrul Islam and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Md Mokhtar Ahmed spoke as special guests.

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