Dhaka, Tokyo to hold FOC today

News Desk :

Bangladesh and Japan will hold Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) today in Tokyo which will discuss the key issues of cooperation, including a likely meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later this month.

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, reports UNB.

Prof Yunus is also a recipient of the Nikkei Asia Prize in 2004.
Officials said the Chief Adviser will attend the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event and both sides are working to arrange a bilateral meeting between Dr Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi said issues related to trade, investment and the continuation of economic cooperation will be highlighted during the FOC.
The Japanese government has not yet made a public announcement regarding the Chief Adviser’s visit.

“Japan has been your faithful development partner since independence,” said the Ambassador.
He also highlighted Japan’s involvement in key development projects in Bangladesh, such as the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, metro rail, and railway line initiatives.

Secretary (East) Dr Md Nazrul Islam, instead of Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, will lead the Bangladeshi delegation at the FOC, said the Ministry sources.