TOKYO: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari concluded his four-day visit to Japan on July 4, following an invitation from his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi. During his stay in Tokyo, the Foreign Minister engaged in bilateral discussions with Foreign Minister Hayashi and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The talks between the two Foreign Ministers encompassed various aspects of the bilateral relationship, including trade and investment, defense cooperation, education, science and technology, vocational training, people-to-people exchanges, and the export of manpower from Pakistan to Japan. Both sides expressed their commitment to maintaining a high level of engagement to further enhance dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation. They agreed to collaborate on targeted programs with a significant impact, particularly focusing on solarization, desalination, water purification, and the reconstruction of housing and infrastructure in flood-affected areas of Pakistan. Additionally, the two nations resolved to facilitate the movement of skilled workers by conducting Japanese language skill tests in Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), where he highlighted Pakistan’s vision for regional connectivity and economic cooperation. Emphasizing the importance of Pakistan-Japan relations, he underscored the extensive economic complementarities between the two countries, which could lead to win-win outcomes, shared prosperity, and growth. The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that Pakistan and Japan, together, could establish a robust and efficient infrastructure network, enhance regional connectivity, and boost trade volumes not only between the two nations but also throughout the entire region.
During his visit, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also met with executives from Japanese business enterprises, representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), as well as prominent members of Japanese civil society. In these meetings, he highlighted the immense potential for trade and investment between Pakistan and Japan and extended invitations to Japanese enterprises to invest in Pakistan. Furthermore, he assured members of the Pakistani community in Japan of the government’s strong commitment to facilitating the Pakistani diaspora abroad.
The visit of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to Tokyo served as a significant opportunity for high-level political engagement between Pakistan and Japan. Through these fruitful engagements and dialogues, the two countries aim to foster mutual trust, build confidence, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
