Bangladesh and Japan on Monday discussed the issues of mutual interest, particularly the expansion of military and defence cooperation as Japanese Ambassador in Bangladesh Saida Shinichi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam.

The ambassador led a three-member delegation at the meeting at Shamsul Islam’s office in the Armed Forces Division (AFD) at Dhaka Cantonment, said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate release.

Japan’s potential technological assistance for the modernisation of the Bangladesh Armed Forces and the achievement of the country’s “Forces Goal” was also discussed at the meeting.

The ISPR said both sides agreed to enhance training opportunities for members of the armed forces of the two countries, increase regular exchanges of military delegations, and strengthen professional and technical capacity-building initiatives.

The two sides also explored new avenues for cooperation in the exchange of modern defence equipment and technologies.

The meeting is expected to further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and Japan and deepen long-term strategic and mutually beneficial cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries, the ISPR added.