<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Expressing satisfaction over the discussion between the PMs of Bangladesh and Japan during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent official visit, Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori today said the two countries are focusing on a “very comprehensive and targeted-oriented” partnership.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Our relationship has been elevated to strategic partnership from comprehensive partnership. Strategic partnership does not mean only political and security issues,” he told reporters at a media briefing at the Japanese embassy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ambassador, who returned from Tokyo on Tuesday, said the two countries should have mutually beneficial cooperation on economic front.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also said the two countries agreed to further enhance the existing defence cooperation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, the ambassador said there are many similarities between that and Japan’s views on the Indo-Pacific region.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said the Japanese side appreciated the idea but it is a “little premature” to evaluate the outlook at the moment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the summit meeting in Tokyo, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio welcomed the initiation of negotiations concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology, recognising future potential.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They decided to “elevate” the bilateral relationship to a “Strategic Partnership” as a guiding principle to lead the two countries’ journey into the next 50 years and beyond.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also read: Japan can mediate to return the Rohingyas back to Myanmar: PM Hasina</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Both leaders shared the determination to enhance cooperation specifically in three major areas: cooperation for peace and stability in the region and beyond, deepening economic cooperation for mutual benefit and regional prosperity, and expansion of cultural cooperation and people to people exchanges.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina made an official visit to Japan and had a summit meeting on April 26. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>