United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has begun bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss key strategic issues aimed at strengthening bilateral relations on all fronts. The meeting began around 11:35am on Friday at the office of the Japanese Prime Minister, said his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Prior to the talks, the Chief Adviser was accorded a red-carpet reception and a guard of honour. "The meeting will discuss various strategic bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Japan – trade and investment, cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, and human resource development," according to acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique. He said the Rohingya issue will also be discussed during the meeting. Prof Yunus, Japanese PM to hold talks Friday eyeing greater cooperation Bangladesh has sought $1 billion from Japan in the form of ‘soft loan’ and the announcement will come formally after the bilateral talks between the two leaders and an exchange of notes will be signed. "This is a very important visit," said the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. He said Bangladesh is expecting USD 500 million in budgetary support from Japan, in addition to USD 250 million earmarked for the country's railway sector.  Additional assistance in other sectors is also anticipated, as both countries look to deepen bilateral relations. Prof Yunus arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon to attend the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia and hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Working for ‘smooth transition’ to democracy through fair polls: Prof Yunus In February this year, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina Akiko invited Chief Adviser Prof Yunus to visit Japan for the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event to be held on May 29-30 in Tokyo. Prof Yunus is also a recipient of the Nikkei Asia Prize in 2004.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus arrived in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, on Wednesday afternoon to participate in the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia and hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. A Cathay Pacific flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his entourage landed at Narita International Airport at at 2:05pm, 25 minutes ahead of schedule, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Professor Yunus was received at the airport by Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan, Md Daud Ali, he said. “This is a very important visit," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said during a media briefing on Tuesday at the Foreign Service Academy. He said Bangladesh is expecting to get USD 500 million budgetary support from Japan in addition to USD 250 million for the country’s railway sector with likely support in other areas as the two countries eye to further strengthen the relations between the two countries. Bangladesh has sought $1 billion from Japan in the form of ‘soft loan’ and the announcement will come formally after the bilateral talks between the two leaders and an exchange of notes will be signed. Prof Yunus heads off on four-day official visit to Japan The Press Secretary said the Chief Adviser is giving much emphasis on sending skilled manpower to Japan.  "We have a target to send 1,00000 skilled manpower," he said, adding that the government is working to send them very quickly with adequate training, especially language skills. The Press Secretary said it is a priority area for the Chief Adviser and Bangladesh is exploring the area. On the business side, he said two seminars will be held - one on investment by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where hundreds of businessmen of both countries will discuss the economic future. The other seminar will be on skilled laborers or workers hosted by the Bangladesh side with Japanese public private engagement, the envoy said, adding that on both occasions, some MoUs are to be signed. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to attend the 30th Nikkei Future of Asia conference in Tokyo and hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on May 30, aiming to secure funding for key projects. Briefing the media on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique said the Chief Adviser and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will hold bilateral talks in Tokyo on May 30 and discuss ‘strategic bilateral’ issues to strengthen relations on all fronts. "The meeting will discuss various strategic bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Japan – trade and investment, cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, and human resource development," he said. Siddique noted that the Rohingya issue will also be discussed during the meeting. Japan: Prof Yunus to call upon Asian leaders to ensure peaceful, sustainable future for next generations  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will hold bilateral talks in Tokyo, Japan on May 30 and discuss ‘strategic bilateral’ issues to strengthen the relations on all fronts. "The meeting will discuss various strategic bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Japan - trade and investment, cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, human resources development," acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique told reporters at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. The Rohingya issue will also be discussed, he said. Prior to the meeting, the Chief Adviser will be given a red carpet reception and a guard of honor, said the acting Foreign Secretary. The Chief Adviser will pay the official visit on May 28-31. Prof Yunus will depart from Dhaka to Tokyo via Hong Kong on May 28 at 02:10am on a Cathay Pacific flight to participate in the 30th Nikkei Forum Future of Asia. He will reach Narita International Airport at 2.30pm (Tokyo time) on May 28. “The main focus of this visit is budgetary support," Siddique said while responding to a question, adding that all ‘strategic bilateral’ issues will be discussed. He said a total of seven MoUs are likely to be signed during the official visit of the Chief Adviser. Bangladesh has sought $1 billion from Japan as budgetary support in the form of ‘soft loan’ and the announcement will come formally after the bilateral talks and an exchange of notes will be signed. Taro Aso, President, Japan Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League will pay a courtesy call on the Chief Advisor on May 28. He will attend a dinner hosted in his honor by the President of Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa, where Japanese political and business leaders will be present. After the dinner, the Chief Advisor will hold an interactive meeting with Japanese dignitaries. On May 29, Prof Yunus will be called on by high-ranking officials of Nikkei before the opening of the Nikkei Forum. The Chief Advisor will participate in the 30th Nikkei Forum Future of Asia. In the inaugural plenary session, the Chief Adviser will deliver a keynote speech calling on Asia and the entire world to work together and build a better future on the theme ‘Asia’s Challenge in a Turbulent World’. Qatari PM to meet CA Prof Yunus today for bilateral talks Dr Tanaka Akihiko, JICA President will pay a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser. During the meeting, JICA's cooperation in the future progress of Bangladesh and the progress of various projects currently being funded by JICA will be discussed. Director General (East Asia & Pacific wing) Mohammed Nore-Alam and Director General (Public Diplomacy wing) Shah Asif Rahman also spoke at the briefing. In February this year, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina Akiko invited Chief Adviser Prof Yunus to visit Japan for the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event to be held on May 29-30 in Tokyo. Prof Yunus is also a recipient of the Nikkei Asia Prize in 2004. Under the new plan for Free and Open Indo Pacific and Big-B initiatives, Japan wants to see the sustainable development of the region. Japan said it would strengthen its engagement with Bangladesh under the Bay of Bengal Initiative (Big-B), as the country aims to support high-quality infrastructure development projects and encourage Japanese manufacturing and production companies to expand their industrial value chains to Bangladesh. Under the new plan for Free and Open Indo Pacific and Big-B initiatives, Japan wants to see the sustainable development of the region, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo. Political, economic and sectoral cooperation issues along with trade and investment, people-to-people connectivity and cultural exchanges, Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (Rohingyas), security cooperation, and regional and global issues are likely to be discussed during the visit The two countries will further strengthen the bilateral relationship in a wide range of areas, including security, economy, economic cooperation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, under the ‘Japan-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership’. Dr Yunus, President Xi’s bilateral talks on March 28: Officials