Ambassador and Plenipotentiary of Japan, H.E. Mr Hiroshi Inomata, gave a public talk on Pakistan-Japan relations at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad today at the newly introduced series called the Ambassador’s Platform.
In his welcome remarks, Director General ISSI Ambassador Masood Khan said that Pakistan has always maintained strong political understanding and economic and cultural ties with Japan.
Ambassador Inomata said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. He said that ever since the formal end of World War II on 15 August 1945, Japan is committed to peace at all costs. He emphasised that the Japanese nation has learnt many lessons from the tragic experiences, and would like to see a world without nuclear weapons, as well as contribute more actively to international peace as a peace-loving nation. He reminded the audience of the visit of Japanese Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko to Pakistan in 1962 who are now the Emperor and Empress of Japan. He mentioned other high-powered visits and recent exchanges between the two countries, and said that the Japanese Government is now working to materialise an official visit by the Japanese Prime Minister to Pakistan. He said that Japan has a security dialogue with limited countries, and Pakistan is one of these countries, which makes the relationship special.
He pointed out that both countries were important trading partners during the 1950s. Japan exported textile machinery to Pakistan and Pakistan exported raw cotton to Japan. He said that the Pakistan-Japan Business Committee (PJBC) is going to hold a meeting in Pakistan in November this year that could not be held in the past three years. He said that investment by Japanese companies in textile in Pakistan is no longer lucrative for them, and other avenues of investment should be explored.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BOG, ISSI, in his closing remarks said that the Gandhara civilisation and cotton trade were the means of old contacts between the two countries even when Pakistan was not created. He mentioned Pakistan’s role in the revival of Japanese textile industry in the 1950s. He said that as an Observer on the SAARC platform, Japan can play an important role in South Asia and it should not discriminate Pakistan in matters related to civilian nuclear cooperation.
Dr A.R. Malik/11082015
