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Japan's new ambassador, Hiroyasu Izumi, says his government wants to work actively with Bangladesh government and the country's private sector for further improving investment environment and ensuring security.
"I would like to reiterate my sincere desire to further develop the cordial relations in a wide range of areas including development cooperation, trade and investment, and cultural and people exchange," he said in a statement issued on the occasion of assumption of his office as the Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh.
The new Japanese envoy presented Tuesday his letter of credence to President Md Abdul Hamid to begin his diplomatic mission in Dhaka.
He noted that Bangladesh is located at the center of a triangle formed by three growing markets--India, South-East Asian countries, and China--and has achieved about 7.0 per cent economic growth steadily under the political stability in recent years.
In addition to this geographical advantage and cultural diversity, a large young population endows Bangladesh with good and abundant labour.
Besides, he mentioned the country's tremendous potential for development with its young and vibrant population.
Recalling historical mutual visits of the two countries' Prime Ministers that established "Japan-Bangladesh Comprehensive Partnership" on the ground of historical ties in 2014, Ambassador Izumi said the attendance of the Outreach Meeting of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year made its relationship more enhanced.
"I will make an all-out effort to strengthen and develop the time-tested bilateral relations even further," he said, seeking support and cooperation of all in enhancing the friendship between Bangladesh and Japan.
Regarding marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh, the Ambassador said Japan recognized Bangladesh right after its independence, and had since nurtured bilateral friendship as the largest development partner in cooperation with public and private sectors.
The envoy conveyed his government's appreciation to Bangladesh's efforts in providing humanitarian relief to Rohingyas and extended its full support in cooperation with the international society.
He said since the end of August 2017, an unprecedented number of Rohingyas has fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar. "I visited the Rohingya camp near the border, and people there are in a difficult situation and they need the international humanitarian assistance immediately."
The Japanese Ambassador expressed his deepest condolences and profound grief to the victims and their families including 8 Japanese nationals killed in the terror attacks in July last year and October the year before and in other terror attacks.
He said, "We will pay utmost attention to safety measures in cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh."
Ambassador Izumi joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1981 and most recently served as Director General, Foreign Service Training Institute. Prior to that assignment, he was Minister Plenipotentiary, the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America.
Bangladesh has long been a good partner in development activities. According to information at Japan International Cooperation Agency website, Japan's total value of programmes in Bangladesh was 68.15 billion yens till 2015 fiscal.
During his visit in 2014, Prime Minister Abe announced providing up to 600 billion yens of additional assistance, mainly yen loans to Bangladesh, in about 4 or 5 years from 2014. The Japanese government's funding agency has been providing both technical and financial supports to a number of projects afterwards which include developing metro rails and power plants.