ISLAMABAD: Japan Ambassador to Pakistan Wada Mitsuhiro on Thursday said that Tokyo wanted to push its bilateral relations with Islamabad to higher level.
Addressing to a reception organized for journalists, Ambassador Wada Mitsuhiro said that Japan has been providing development assistance to Pakistan since 1954. The gathering, designed to foster understanding of Japan and strengthen Japan-Pakistan relations, brought together key figures from political, economic, development, and public affairs sections.
Ambassador Wada highlighted the diverse projects undertaken by both countries as they celebrated the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Ambassador Wada emphasized the significant milestones achieved in Japan’s development assistance to Pakistan, particularly in response to the devastating floods in last summer. He said that the commitment of approximately 77 million US dollars in assistance, with over half already disbursed, demonstrates Japan’s dedication to supporting Pakistan’s recovery efforts. A grant aid project was recently signed to rebuild schools in Sindh Province, exemplifying the enduring partnership.
Ambassador Wada mentioned the visit of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister to Japan in July. The open and frank exchange of views during this visit, as well as various high-level consultation frameworks, laid the groundwork for advancing bilateral relations.
On the business front, Ambassador Wada shared insights from his September visit to Sialkot with Japanese companies, aiming to strengthen business ties. Despite the challenging economic situation, over 80 Japanese companies in Pakistan continue to contribute significantly, creating jobs and fostering knowledge exchange.
Highlighting the cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Ambassador Wada said that they holding events such as a Karate session and a Japanese film festival, underscoring the foundation of Japan-Pakistan relations. He said that the conferment of Imperial Decorations on individuals like Imtiaz Ahmad and Dr. Gazala Irfan further exemplifies the cultural bridge between the two nations.
At the end, Ambassador Wada expressed optimism about the continued growth of bilateral relations, hoping that the younger generations of Japan and Pakistan would deepen their cultural understanding, paving the way for future milestones in the enduring friendship between the two countries.
The reception offered an opportunity for journalists to interact with experts and officials from various sectors.
