Koichi Mizushima, a spokesperson for the Japan Foreign Ministry, briefed journalists on Saturday regarding the minister's visit to Bangladesh. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh, a country that has always been friendly towards Japan. Kishida is the first foreign minister to visit Dhaka since the controversial Jan 5 parliamentary election, which was boycotted by the opposition BNP and its allies. The visit was seen as a good opportunity to enhance bilateral relations, especially since a new government had been formed. The focus of the cooperation should be on a comprehensive partnership, according to Mizushima. During bilateral talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart, AH Mahmood Ali, Kishida emphasized the importance of this partnership. The spokesperson also mentioned Japan's concern during the unrest leading up to the Jan 5 elections, as it was causing worry among Japanese investors. The relationship between the two countries will cover various aspects, not just political ones, with an emphasis on economic ties and people-to-people connections. Japanese investment in Bangladesh has been growing rapidly, with the number of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh nearly tripling in the last seven years. Japan has been a significant development partner for Bangladesh, providing assistance in various forms such as grants, aid, technical help, and soft loans. Currently, the two countries are in talks for the 35th package of soft loans, with Japan committing to a loan of 120 billion Yen for five projects. Both countries are also considering an Economic Partnership Agreement to further strengthen their economic ties. The two foreign ministers discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest and agreed to work on visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders, as well as other agreements for closer cooperation. Japan also expressed interest in financing key infrastructure projects in Bangladesh and contributing to regional connectivity and integration. The ministers also discussed cooperation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Japan's interest in learning from Bangladesh's experience in disaster management. Japan also proposed the establishment of a Peace-building Center in Bangladesh, which was positively received by the Bangladesh foreign ministry.