DHAKA, Aug 26, 2023 (BSS) - State Minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam today said Japanese assistance specially its brilliant infrastructure projects bring solutions to many challenges that people of Bangladesh have been facing.

"We see these (Japanese support) as solutions to many of the problems the country and its people have been facing," he said.

The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion on "Materializing Japan-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership: Diplomatic, Economic & People-to-People Relations" organized by Japan based think-tank Pan-Asia Research Institute (PARI) at Japan Embassy in the capital.
 
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori spoke as special guest and FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam spoke as the guest of honour at the discussion marking the official launch of the Pan-Asia Research Institute (PARI).

Alam said that Bangladesh and Japan would surely work collectively and walk together on the journey for achieving a mutually beneficial future for both countries and their peoples.

He lauded the investment, presence of a growing number of Japanese companies and cooperation in the Matarbari project.

Alam said that the achievements of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are absolutely phenomenal and Bangladesh needs to uphold its exciting economic journey to achieve its ambitious development goals. "Only friends like Japan can help us to achieve that goal," he added.

The state minister sought Japan's support in resolving the Rohingya crisis considering its good relations with Myanmar.

"On behalf of the people and the government of Bangladesh, we hope that Japan will step up efforts to help resolve the Rohingya crisis," he said.

Ambassador Kiminori said a common dedication to promoting peace and stability in the area and beyond characterises the relationship between Japan and Bangladesh.

He said that the connectivity and overall relationship between Japan and Bangladesh would further improve in the days to come.

The envoy said PARI and similar research institutions can serve to improve ties between Japan and Bangladesh.

Former ambassadors of Bangladesh to Japan Jamil Majid and Ashraf-Ud-Doula; Apex Footwear Ltd Managing Director Syed Nasim Manzur; Dhaka University International Relations Department Chairperson Dr Lailufar Yasmin; Foreign Ministry's East Asia and Pacific Wing Director Sayem Ahmed; JICA Bangladesh Senior Representative Eiji Yamada; Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Dhaka (JCIAD) President Tetsuro Kano; and Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) Secretary General Md Anwar Shahid were present as panelists.

Speakers at the event highlighted people-to-people connectivity as the key factor in materialising Japan-Bangladesh strategic partnership.
PARI president Yuji Ando, PARI vice-president Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan Jun and PARI executive director Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun moderated the sessions.

PARI, a Japan-based multi-modal Asia and Pacific-focused think-tank carries out multi-stakeholder research and analytical works on a whole gamut of socio-political, economic, business interests and bilateral as well as multilateral diplomatic issues with particular importance to the changing geopolitical reality of the pan-Asia region.