United News of Bangladesh

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