DHAKA: Visiting Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe along with his 150 entourage members went to the national mausoleum at Savar and paid tribute to the martyrs of country’s war of independence.
The Japanese PM, at 2:00pm on Saturday, reached the mausoleum and placed floral wreaths at the altar to pay tribute to the martyrs and signed in the visitor’s book
Earlier at 12: 50pm, a special fight, carrying Abe along with his 150 entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here on a two-day official visit.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Japanese counterpart at the airport.
He was given a guard of honor and greeted with flowers.
From airport, he went to the national mausoleum at Savar, from where he is scheduled to visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in city’s Dhanmondi area.
Then, Abe will deliver a speech at a Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum program at Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel.
He will then go to the prime minister’s office for the summit, to be held between two premiers at 4:00pm and then both leaders will sign a joint statement.
Issues of investment and infrastructure development will be on focus during the visit.
Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia reports, speaking to media before leaving Tokyo, Abe noted he was the first Japanese premier to visit Bangladesh in 14 years and Sri Lanka in 24 years.
He called Bangladesh and Sri Lanka "countries with a growing influence in economic and political domains".
"I hope to introduce the dynamism of both countries to Japan's economy by strengthening relations with them and engaging in top-level sales activities," said Abe, who is accompanied by 150 entourage members, including 50 top Japanese corporate executives.
Bangladesh foreign ministry sources said Japan could make commitments of around $6 billion for the next five years.
The money would cover development plan for southern Chittagong and Cox's Bazar and the expansion of Matarbari deep sea port.
This visit is taking place within three months of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Japan in May this year. But, it is first visit to Bangladesh by a Japanese PM in 14 years since the then Japan prime minister Yoshiro Mori visited Bangladesh in 2000.
During the tour, the two countries will discuss several bilateral and regional issues as well as to give support for Japan’s candidacy for a 2016-2017 non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC), to be held at the 70th session of UN General Council on October 2015.
Besides, the Japanese PM will address the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum jointly organized by Bangladesh Board of Investment (BoI), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
During the visit, Japanese PM will meet president M Abdul Hamid and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad. However, there is no schedule for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
** Japanese PM arrives
BDST: 1500 HRS, SEP 06, 2014
