Prospects for SAARC-Japan Dialogue Partnership:
A Bangladeshi Perspective
M. Jashim Uddin, Ph.DVisiting Fellow,
The Japan Institute of International Affairs

SummaryJapan has maintained a warm bilateral relationship with each of the SAARC countries for manyyears. JICA’s role in socioeconomic and infrastructural development has been evident across theSAARC region. Recently, Japan has renewed its economic, strategic and maritime security
interests in the region especially in India, a rising global power, and Bangladesh, geo-politicallya vital littoral of the Bay of Bengal. The mutual state visits of top leaders (Abe, Modi, Hasina) ofJapan and South Asia in 2014 for establishing a robust partnership, current literatures on JapanSouth Asia relations, official statements and editorials indicate their growing mutual interests.
Nevertheless, Japan’s multilateral engagement in South Asia has not been significant. Despite
being an observer of SAARC since 2005, and actively making a contribution to establish
SAARC-Japan Special Fund in 1993, the current relationship between Japan and SAARC is stillquite narrow. The relationship is largely knowledge based exchange programs which have beenorganized with the support of the fund, e.g., SAARC-Japan energy symposiums. However, Japan
does not have any collaboration with SAARC for any concrete projects such as regional or subregional connectivity as it has remarkably been doing with ASEAN through ASEAN-Japan
dialogue partnerships. It can be argued that the SAARC-Japan dialogue partnership can bringfurther win-win situations for both entities. At this point, questions may be raised: What are themerits of the Japan-South Asia relationship? Are there any prospects for SAARC-Japan dialogue
partnership? What lessons can be learnt from ASEAN-Japan relations for SAARC-Japan?
The SAARC region has been receiving a great attention by extra regional major powers andJapan is no exception in this regard. The concept of the 'Indo-Pacific Age’ linking the two great
oceans is gaining traction and promotes the significance of India as well as other littorals of Bayof Bengal. The region is located at the centre of the Indian ocean, which is believed to dominate
the fate of the nations in the 21st century. The ocean carries two thirds of the oil shipments of theworld. The growth and even survival of some major powers largely depend on the energy
passing through the ocean; almost half of Japan’s energy resources comes from the Middle East
through this ocean. The SAARC region lords over the ocean. Thus, it is in the interest of Japan tosee a friendly and stable South Asia. Moreover, the rise of India, South Asia as a potential
billion-plus market, a growing regional and sub-regional initiatives through SAARC, BIMSTEC,IORA, China’s keen interests and leadership role in building BCIM corridor and very recently
her thrust for revival of the ancient ‘Maritime Silk Route’ has added further value to the weightof the SAARC region. On the other hand, the high economic growth of most of SAARC
countries, and recent cooling relations between Japan and China, a prime destination forJapanese investment, has contributed to shifts in the interests of Japanese government and thebusiness community from China toward the SAARC region. Similarly, SAARC countries have astrong motivation to deepen closer relations with Japan, a credible partner, as they can attract
greater amounts of Japanese ODA and investments for their continuing development.
From various perspectives, SAARC region has a vast potential, yet poverty and other humansecurity concerns remain rampant, owing substantially to unresolved inter- and intra-state
conflicts. Interdependence among regional countries is imperative in promoting cooperation andeventually regionalism, but unfortunately it is very low in South Asia; trade within the region isless than 5 percent even after thirty years of SAARC’s existence. Hence, revitalization ofSAARC is indispensible. The SAARC leaders recognized this fact at the 18th SAARC Summitin November 2014. The Modi government of India has already initiated a new SAARC
diplomacy called ‘SAARC Yatra’ (SAARC Journey) for strengthening the forum.
Japan being a credible partner of SAARC countries can play a proactive diplomatic function both
directly and behind the scenes to deepen regional cooperation in South Asia just as it played acatalyst role in magnifying ASEAN’s harmony and growth. SAARC countries need to explore
the ASEAN-Japan dialogue partnership mechanism. Regarding the prospects of Japan-SAARC
dialogue partnership, from a pragmatic perspective, the partnership can be formed, but thisdepends on how the South Asian governments can make SAARC more effective, view Japan`sengagement as a dialogue partner, and how proactively Japan can play its due role.
Both Japan and SAARC countries can consider the following ideas and measures: i) a conference
can be organized on the significance and prospects of SAARC-Japan dialogue partnership either
in Tokyo or Dhaka; ii) the capacity of the SAARC secretariat has to be strengthened, and a study
can be done with the support of SAARC-Japan Special Fund; iii) with its great stature, Indianpolicy makers have to show visionary leadership. Their constructive neighborhood policy inSAARC region may limit any negative motive of extra-regional powers; iv) Japan has to be
widely engaged itself in sub-regional cooperation to bring a momentum in connectivity inSAARC region; v) Japan can and should build more soft institutions like Japan Study Centers, orEast Asian Study Centers in public or reputed private universities in South Asia, e, g., a Japan
Study Center can be established in the BRAC University in Bangladesh.
Japan has never meddled in the internal affairs of SAARC countries, but rather has been a trusted
friend and development partner for several years. In addition, considering Japan`s tremendous
experience in the development of ASEAN as a dialogue partner, Japan can be a credible dialogue
partner for SAARC. Japan also has to play a pro-active role as a catalyst in strengthening theSAARC mechanism and South Asians have to be smarter to gain more by establishing anSAARC-Japan dialogue partnership.