Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: On the auspicious occasion of the anniversary day when Japan and Pakistan officially established diplomatic relations on April 28 seventy years ago, Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio conveyed his congratulatory remarks to celebrate the 70 years of bilateral diplomatic relations.
In the message, Honorable KISHIDA Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan has extended his congratulations to Honorable Shehbaz Sharif on his assumption of office as Prime Minister. PM KISHIDA also congratulates the people of both Japan and Pakistan for successful seventy years of their bilateral relations.
Japan established diplomatic relations with Pakistan on 28th April, 1952, the very day when the San Francisco Peace Treaty went into effect and Japan regained its independence. Today marks exactly 70 years since then, and I am very pleased to celebrate this milestone with all of you. Japan and Pakistan have nurtured friendly relations over the years, extending support to each other when in need, said PM Kishida.
The PM mentioned that in the postwar period, cotton exported from Pakistan to Japan backed its textile industry and greatly encouraged Japan’s postwar reconstruction. In turn, Japan has continuously provided Pakistan with assistance mainly in its areas of expertise, such as water, healthcare, education and disaster management.
“Both Japan and Pakistan are disaster-prone countries, and we have supported each other through the years. When Pakistan was struck by a massive earthquake in 2005 and by severe floods in 2010, Japan dispatched its disaster relief team and provided yen loans and grant aid. When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred in 2011, Pakistan not only delivered relief goods, such as milk and biscuits, but Pakistani people residing in Japan traveled to the affected areas to serve hot meals to disaster victims” he added.
He also mentioned that recently, when the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated last August, Pakistan extended generous support to Japan to facilitate the safe departure from Afghanistan of Japanese nationals and Afghan staffs working in the Japanese Embassy and the JICA office.
He said Pakistan is located in a strategic place that connects Asia and the Middle East. It is, therefore, one of the most important countries not only for the stability of the region but also for international counter-terrorism efforts. In this context, we would like to cooperate with Pakistan to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
PM Kishida said that “In this milestone year, I wish to elevate our bilateral relations to new heights. I am determined to work with PM Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan even more closely for that purpose”.
He expressed his sincere wishes for the prosperity of our two countries and the further deepening of the friendship between the peoples of Japan and Pakistan.
JICA also celebrates this important day with the video titled “A story of Friendship and Assistance”. Among diverse ties between the two countries, development cooperation is a major factor to bear witness to the solid foundation underpinning the relations.
This short animated film is the story of a girl named AreebaSaleha, born to a family hailing from Abbottabad, Pakistan. Her lifelong friendship with JICA started with her birth at the Children’s Hospital in Islamabad. Areeba’s parents raised her through thick and thin, but JICA’s assistance in health, disaster management, education, and water and sanitation, at every step of the way, did befriend her. Today, Areeba has set up her own fashion apparel brand and is a role model for many children like her who deserve a good life. Her story embodies JICA’s vision and mission of decades of partnership with the people of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended a congratulatory message to celebrate this occasion.