“Your voice strengthens our voice and is amplified to the global community. You rallied to our cause and together raised a human bastion against a brutal force. In the land of the rising sun, we see the image of a nation with dignity and humanity,” he said.
Sheikh Hasina said it was an honor for her to carry forward her father’s legacy and to have visited Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019 to further strengthen ties.
He said, “I am happy today that during my tenure, our time-tested friendship has grown in depth and dimension from a “Comprehensive Partnership” to a “Strategic Partnership”.
The Prime Minister also said that Bangladesh and Japan share the same great ideas and principles of equality, democracy and democratic practice, inclusive development, social justice and rule of law.
“We are following the vision of our Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who declared “friendship for all, enmity towards none” at the core of our foreign policy, which is also prevalent in Japan,” he said.
They acknowledged Japan’s continued economic cooperation and support in their socio-economic pursuit, he added.
“We have graduated from LDC to a developing country,” she said.
The Prime Minister further said that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan are based on mutual trust, respect, friendship and cooperation. The historic visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in October 1973 laid the foundation for a firm and lasting friendship.
