Tokyo, 3 July, 2023 (GNP): The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, embarked on his maiden visit to Japan since assuming office last year, aimed at further strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two nations. During his visit, the Pakistani and Japanese officials held productive discussions and agreed to deepen their mutually beneficial partnership across various sectors.
Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing trade, investment, human resource development, exchange programs, information technology, tourism, and agriculture cooperation. Additionally, they expressed interest in collaborating on targeted initiatives with a significant impact, such as solarization, desalination, water purification, housing, and infrastructure rebuilding in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.
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In a joint press statement with his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari highlighted the potential for increased engagement and cooperation between the two nations. He also conveyed greetings from the Government and people of Pakistan to the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, during their meeting, where both leaders expressed a strong desire to further enhance their bilateral relations.
The two ministers appreciated the existing friendly relations between Pakistan and Japan and expressed readiness to deepen their engagement. As part of their efforts to facilitate the movement of skilled workers, Pakistan and Japan agreed to conduct language skill assessment tests for the Japanese language in Pakistan. The import of young skilled human resources from Pakistan to Japan and language training were identified as prime areas of cooperation.
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Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari underlined the importance of investments and joint ventures by Japanese enterprises in Pakistan, noting the potential for mutually beneficial collaborations. During his visit, he also plans to engage with the private sector, local media, and think tanks to further expand bilateral engagement.
Expressing the deep-rooted linkages and historical ties between the two countries, the Foreign Minister stated, “Pakistan and Japan share a special bond, and the people of Pakistan hold a deep sentiment of warmth and affection for Japan and the Japanese people. We have always stood with each other in times of need.”
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari extended an invitation to his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi, to visit Pakistan at his convenience for further discussions, underscoring the commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.