PM likely to visit Japan next week

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ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Tokyo on April 25 on a four-day official visit at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.

According to officials at the foreign ministry, at least 10 treaties and documents relating to cooperation in various areas, including defence, cyber security, communication infrastructure, information, communication technology, and agriculture, are expected to be signed during the PM’s visit to Japan.

The leaders of the two nations are expected to lift the relation of bilateral cooperation to the level of strategic partnership through a joint declaration, said a senior official.

The official added that foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen held a secretary-level meeting in Tokyo in February to finalise the documents for the bilateral meeting of the two prime ministers.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told the weekly press briefing at the foreign ministry on April 13 that 8–10 treaties and memorandums of understanding were expected to be signed during the PM’s visit to Japan.

During the visit, Hasina is scheduled to attend an investment summit and a community reception, along with several bilateral meetings.

She is also likely to visit the United States and the United Kingdom after concluding her Japan visit, said officials.

Hasina’s visit to Japan, initially scheduled for November 29–December 1, was postponed reportedly due to the political situation there.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen said on several occasions that the visit was postponed due to Japan’s internal political situation and a spike in Covid infections.

Hasina visited Japan in 2019 for the last time.