ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan have agreed to enhance cooperation in bilateral trade, investment, human resource development, and tourism, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Monday, as he met his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi during his official visit to the country.
The foreign minister arrived in Tokyo on Saturday at the invitation of the Japanese leadership. The Pakistani foreign minister has engaged with Japanese leaders, including his counterpart, and met the Pakistani diaspora in the country, members of the business community, and the private sector.
At a joint press conference with Hayashi, Bhutto-Zardari thanked the Japanese leadership for their hospitality and said that the two countries were “longstanding friends” with deep roots in history and time.
In this handout picture, taken and released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi after a joint press conference in Tokyo on July 3, 2023. (Photo courtesy: MOFA)
“I had a very productive discussion with His Excellency Hayashi this morning on how the two countries can further deepen our bilateral cooperation,” the Pakistani foreign minister said.
“We have agreed to further deepen and enhance our mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, human resource development and exchange, IT, tourism, and agriculture,” he added.
Bhutto-Zardari said the two sides have agreed to “explore the possibility” of working together on water purification, desalination, solarization, and rebuilding infrastructure in Pakistan’s flood-affected areas.
“We have identified the import of young Pakistani skilled human resources 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,” he added.
The Pakistani foreign minister said he would engage with the local media, the private sector, and think tanks during the course of his visit to further broaden Pakistan and Japan’s engagement.
“I believe that both sides need to stay engaged at all levels to further positive dialogue and continue exploring more avenues of cooperation,” he added.
