Japan and Bangladesh will hold their sixth Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Tokyo on Thursday, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and advancing strategic cooperation. This meeting will be followed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s upcoming official visit to Japan, scheduled for May 28. The Bangladesh delegation will be led by Foreign Secretary (East) Dr. Nazrul Islam, while Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Akihiro Tsukii will represent Japan.
A diverse set of bilateral and regional issues—including economic and military collaboration, Japanese investments in Bangladesh, the Indo-Pacific framework, the Rohingya refugee situation, political developments in Myanmar, and overall regional stability—is expected to be discussed at the FOC.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi held separate meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka with Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin and Secretary (East) Dr. Nazrul Islam to discuss preparations for the upcoming consultations. Speaking to reporters following the meetings, the Japanese ambassador stated that both sides would focus on strengthening economic ties and exploring future investment opportunities during the consultations.
In response to a question, he reaffirmed Japan’s interest in assisting with the development of Dhaka’s second and third metro rail lines, highlighting Tokyo’s long-standing commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s infrastructure development.
