Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to Visit Japan for High-Level Bilateral Engagement and Nikkei Forum
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus is set to depart Dhaka early Wednesday (28 May) on a four-day official visit to Japan, where he will participate in the prestigious 30th Nikkei Forum and hold high-level talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique shared the details of the visit at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. He announced that seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit, covering key sectors such as investment, energy, and technology. Additionally, an Exchange of Notes is anticipated regarding budgetary support and the upgradation of the Joydebpur-Ishwardi railway line to a dual-gauge double-track.
According to the official itinerary, Professor Yunus will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:10 am aboard a Cathay Pacific flight via Hong Kong, arriving at Narita International Airport in Tokyo at 2:30 pm local time. He will be received with state honours by Japan’s Chief of Protocol, senior officials, and the Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan.
The visit will begin with a courtesy meeting with Taro Aso, President of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League, followed by a dinner hosted by Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation. Professor Yunus will also engage with prominent Japanese dignitaries in an interactive session.
On 29 May, ahead of the Nikkei Forum, senior executives from Nikkei Inc. will pay a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser. He will then deliver the keynote address at the inaugural plenary session of the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia, focusing on the theme “Asia’s Challenge in a Turbulent World.” His speech will highlight the need for collaborative regional efforts to ensure a sustainable and equitable future.
Other high-level attendees at the Forum include the Presidents of Laos and Palau, Prime Ministers of Japan and Cambodia, Deputy Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Singapore, as well as international policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders.
Later in the day, Professor Yunus will speak at a Human Resource Development Seminar hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, where he will highlight Bangladesh’s potential to meet Japan’s skilled workforce demands.
The Chief Adviser’s itinerary also includes bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, including JICA President Tanaka Akihiko, to review development cooperation and ongoing JICA-funded projects. He will also give exclusive interviews to major Japanese media outlets such as Nikkei, NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Asahi TV, and Nippon TV.
On 30 May, Professor Yunus will be welcomed with a red-carpet reception and guard of honour before his official bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Talks will encompass strategic issues including trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, human resource development, and the Rohingya refugee crisis.
He will also grant an exclusive interview to Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, and later meet JETRO President Kimura Fukunari to discuss expanding bilateral trade and investment. A roundtable with Japanese investors and participation in the “Bangladesh Business Seminar” will further strengthen commercial ties.
In recognition of his work in social innovation, Soka University will award Professor Yunus an Honorary Doctorate Degree. He will deliver a special address to a distinguished gathering at the university.
The visit will conclude with a community reception hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy and a dinner in his honour at Bangladesh House, hosted by the Bangladesh Ambassador.
Professor Yunus will depart Tokyo on the morning of 31 May via Singapore Airlines, with his return to Dhaka expected later that night.
