Pakistan, Japan agree to expand bilateral relations in multiple areas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan on Monday agreed to further deepen and enhance their mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in multiple areas including trade, investment, human resource development and exchange, IT, tourism and agriculture sectors.

“We have also jointly agreed to explore the possibility of working together on targeted programmes with higher impact in the domains of solarisation, desalination and water purification and housing and infrastructure rebuilding in the flood-affected areas in Pakistan, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a joint press statement along with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo.

Earlier, the two ministers held a meeting in a cordial environment. Both the ministers appreciated the free bilateral relations while expressing readiness to engage further, the official news agency reported.

In addition, the two sides have agreed to conduct the language skill assessment tests for Japanese language in Pakistan to facilitate movement of the skilled workforce.

FM Bilawal said the two sides also identified import of young Pakistani skilled human resource to Japan and their language training to be a prime area of cooperation. “We also deliberated on investments and joint ventures by Japanese enterprises in Pakistan.”

During his visit, he said he would also interact with private sector, local media as well as think-tanks “to further broaden our engagement”.

“I believe that both sides need to stay engaged at all levels to further positive dialogue and continue exploring more avenues of cooperation,” Bilawal said.

The foreign minister also invited his Japanese counterpart to visit Pakistan at his convenience.

He said Pakistan and Japan were longstanding friends and share a special bond based on deep rooted linkages that go far in history and time.

“The people of Pakistan carry a deep sentiment of warmth and affection for Japan and the Japanese people. We have always stood with each other in times of need,” he said.

Bilawal said last year, they had seen new energy and vigour in the relationship through continued high-level exchanges. “I also had the honour to meet Minister Hayashi at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 4 August 2022 on the sidelines of the 29th Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Today we continued our discussions from that meeting,” he added.