Japan to provide full support to interim govt: Envoy

Outgoing Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori said Japan has its full support to the incumbent interim government of Bangladesh and it will continue to help boost the country’s economy.

He made the assertion during the farewell call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna here on Wednesday (December 11).

The Japanese envoy said, “No Japanese company withdrew their business from Bangladesh after the July-August mass uprising, and they are willing to stay in Bangladesh.”

Lauding the leadership of Professor Yunus, Ambassador Kiminori said, “His government would cement ties with Bangladesh on three pillars- peace and stability, economic cooperation, and human-to-human interactions. We’ll try our best to support Bangladesh based on the three pillars.”

Kiminori reiterated Tokyo’s “strong support” for the reform initiatives undertaken by the Interim Government in different areas including electoral process.

Professor Yunus thanked the outgoing ambassador for his contribution to improve Bangladesh-Japan relationship.

Praising the ties between the two countries, Prof Yunus said, the relation has always been very strong.

Prof Yunus called for more Japanese investment in Bangladesh as his government was carrying out vital reforms to attract more foreign direct investment, saying that presence of Japanese investors in Bangladesh sends a good message for us.

The Japanese ambassador also appreciated the Chief Adviser’s move to hold an international conference on the Rohingya issues, saying Tokyo has strong supports to the conference.

The Chief Adviser reiterated his call to create UN- safe zone in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state where the displaced communities can temporarily be relocated before they return to their homes once the conflict is over.