Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia stopped short Thursday of supporting a U.N. resolution compiled by the "Group of Four" to expand the Security Council.
A joint statement issued after her talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo only stated that Bangladesh will give Japan's request "due consideration."
Bangladesh supports Japan's bid to get a permanent UNSC seat but opposes the reform plan due to diplomatic friction with G4 member India.
Debate on Security Council expansion is under way at the U.N. General Assembly, and Japan, Brazil, Germany and India are seeking a vote on their framework resolution around Wednesday.
Many Japanese government officials have suggested the G4's position is not strong enough in the General Assembly, with G4 sources saying the group has only secured the backing of 90 or 100 countries so far. A U.N. reform plan needs the backing of at least two-thirds of the 191 member countries, or 128.
Meanwhile, Japan offered Bangladesh up to 866 million yen in grants Thursday to improve equipment for communications and meteorological observation of cyclones.
About 40 million people in Bangladesh live in coastal areas on the Bay of Bengal, which is often hit by cyclones.