Koichi Mizushima, a spokesperson for the Japan Foreign Ministry, stated that the purpose of the minister's visit to Bangladesh was to strengthen cooperation with a country that has traditionally been very friendly towards Japan. This visit comes after the controversial parliamentary election on January 5, which was boycotted by the opposition BNP and its allies. The minister emphasized the importance of a comprehensive partnership between the two countries during bilateral talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart. The relationship between Japan and Bangladesh covers various aspects, with a focus on economic relations and people-to-people contact. Japan has been a significant development partner for Bangladesh, providing assistance in the form of grants, aid, technical assistance, and soft loans. The two countries are currently negotiating a new package of soft loans, with Japan promising a loan of $1.18 billion for various projects. The spokesperson highlighted the economic potential of Bangladesh and the strategic importance of its location. Both countries expressed interest in concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement and discussed the possibility of Japan financing key infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. They also agreed to work together on climate change issues and disaster management. Japan extended an invitation for Bangladesh to participate in the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. Additionally, Japan responded positively to the idea of establishing a Peace-building Centre in Bangladesh.