Bangladesh has extended its support to Japan withdrawing its candidacy for the non-permanent membership seat on the UN Security Council.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced it.
The Prime Minister made the announcement at a formal joint briefing after the summit talks with her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at Ganabhaban in the capital on Saturday.
Starting at 4.30pm, the talks continued till 5.30pm between two leaders.
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe along with his wife Akie Abe arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) International Airport at 12.50pm by a special flight from Tokyo on a 22-hour visit to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and Japan were the two contenders for the non-permanent seat for 2016-2017. But only one will be elected from the Asia Pacific region.
Japan has long been trying to get Bangladesh's support for Tokyo's candidature.
Hasina during his Tokyo visit told Japanese media at a briefing that Japanese people would definitely get "good news" during Abe's tour in Dhaka.
She invited him to visit Bangladesh during their meeting in Tokyo in May.
"I will have to go back and discuss the matter with my cabinet colleagues. But we will definitely value the friendship with Japan," Hasina had then said.
"We always remember with gratitude the Japanese support… Japan is our tested friend and Bangladesh is ready to make any sacrifice for the tested friend," she also said.
During that visit, Abe promised $6 billion development assistance for Bangladesh for the next four to five years.
In his first speech on Saturday before the summit meeting he also said he would "promote" trade and investment in Bangladesh.
ZA
