Asia can dominate world if all work together: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that Asia can dominate the world if all countries of this continent can work together.

"There are developed, developing and least developed countries in Asia. if all the countries in Asia can work together then it can dominate the world...we've that prospect," she said.

The premier made the statement when President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka met her at her hotel suite in Tokyo.

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Japan was always close to my heart

PM's speech writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina said Japan is a close friend of Bangladesh since its independence in 1971 and continues its support to Bangladesh.

After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Japan was one of the countries that came forward to help build the war-ravaged Bangladesh, she mentioned.

Hasina requested the JICA President to establish a training centre in Bangladesh to train up youths for their skill development.

Bangladesh is transforming from an agriculture-based country into an industrial country taking Japan as its model, said the Prime Minister.

"Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also wanted that," she added.

Hasina, however, expressed profound sorrow for the loss of lives of Japanese people in the Holey Artisan incident and condoled their deaths.

The JICA President termed the high growth of Bangladesh under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a remarkable one.

Kitaoka said the study programme with Bangladesh will be strengthened as they are giving importance to it.

"Our experience and knowledge can be used for human resource development in Bangladesh," he said.

He mentioned that JICA has taken a programme to train up more people in Bangladesh.

After the successful meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister yesterday, JICA would be able to work with Bangladesh more closely, he said.

Kitaoka said Bangladesh and Japan will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of relations of the two countries in 2022.

Kitaoka congratulated Hasina on her re-election for the 4th term, and hoped that Bangladesh will be more prosperous and happier in the coming days.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shariar Alam, Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) at PMO Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Rabab Fatima were present during the meeting.