Newly appointed Japanese Ambassador Masato Watanabe on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Minister for Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, at his secretariat office.
They discussed various issues of mutual interests.
Welcoming the Japanese envoy at his office, Noor said Japan is a genuine friend of Bangladesh and the two friendly nations are working jointly in sectors like trade, culture, education, science and technology and infrastructure development for long. He hoped that the mutual assistance between the two countries will increase further.
Citing the cultural agreement signed between the two countries in 1982, Noor said, under the agreement both the countries are taking up long-term cultural exchange programmes since 2005. In this regard he gave examples of Japan’s participation in Asian Biennial Art Festival in Dhaka and Bangladesh’s participation in Setowsi International Art Festival in Japan.
The Japanese envoy said, both the countries are working on the basis of mutual assistance and harmony. Japan is continuing assisting Bangladesh in different sectors.
Watanabe also said his country is ready to provide help to Bangladesh in excavating archeological sites and their conservation.
Acting secretary of cultural affairs ministry Aktari Mamtaj , additional secretary M Moshiur Rahman and first secretary of Japan Embassy Rumi Ariyoshi were present, among others.
