ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who has been on a four-day visit to Japan, on Monday said his country does not have time for “bloc politics” and it rather wants to deliver jobs for the prosperity of its people.
The remarks by the Pakistani foreign minister came during his address with attendees at the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) in Tokyo, where he spoke on the topic “Pakistan and Japan in the Asian Context.” He said the two countries shared important convergences in terms of their outlook and vision for the region despite being situated in different corners of the Asian continent.
Bhutto-Zardari called Japan the "original Asian success story" and said Pakistan, like other Asian countries, had enormously benefited from Japan’s experience and example as it had been Pakistan's key development partner, an important source of foreign direct investment and industrial infrastructure, including its automobile industry.
"As a developing country facing serious economic and environmental challenges, Pakistan simply does not have time for the Cold War-style bloc politics that sadly seem to be making a comeback. We want to focus on delivering jobs and prosperity to our 230 million people – two-thirds of whom are below 30 years of age," he said.
"We can only do this by leveraging our strategic location at the crossroads of Central and South Asia to foster economic connectivity and generate growth. This vision is the moving force behind our shift from geopolitics to geo-economics. This is not just a rhetorical change but is rooted in the realization that business-as-usual is no longer an option."
Bhutto-Zardari 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.
The visit by the foreign minister of Pakistan, a close ally of China, comes at a time of heightened tension as the United States moves to forge closer ties with allies Japan and South Korea to push back against China's growing regional influence.
With regard to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a key component of this vision for enhanced connectivity, he said the opportunities created in Pakistan’s industrial, agricultural and energy sectors as a result of CPEC and other Chinese projects were not exclusive to any one country.
"Japanese firms have experience of working successfully and profitably in Pakistan. Their expertise in building infrastructure is second to none," he said. "By joining hands, we can create a robust and efficient infrastructure network, boosting regional connectivity, and enhancing trade volumes not only between our two countries but also across the entire region."
Bhutto-Zardari said Pakistan wants to benefit from Japan's Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Workers programmes.
"The export of skilled labour from Pakistan to Japan has the potential to contribute significantly to Japan’s progress and development," he said. "Pakistan has a large pool of highly skilled professionals, particularly in the fields of information technology, engineering, healthcare, and hospitality. By opening avenues for skilled Pakistani workers, Japan can tap into this talent pool and address its labour shortages in key sectors."
By capitalizing on each other’s strengths, Bhutto-Zardari said, the two countries could create a win-win situation, resulting in shared prosperity and growth.
"There is immense potential for collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, and services," the foreign minister said. "Let us seize this opportunity to build stronger ties, promote bilateral cooperation, and forge a brighter future for our countries, the region and the generations to come."
