Zubair Qureshi
The bilateral relations between Pakistan and Japan are marked by visible and invisible partnership spanning over decades of close cooperation and engagement.
These views were expressed by Ambassador of Japan Wada Mitsuhiro on Thursday while addressing a reception to celebrate the 64th Birthday of the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito (Feb 23).
Emperor Naruhito since his accession to the throne on 1st May 2019 as the 126th Emperor of Japan is seen as the symbol of Japan and the unity of its people.
The reception hosted at Serena Hotel was attended by a large number of representatives from various ministries and departments as well as the Japanese nationals and the Pakistani students.
Caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Jamal Shah was the chief guest on the occasion while Interim Federal Education Minister Madad Ali Sindhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate DrShehzadWaseem, spokesperson for the Balochistan interim government, Jan Achakzai, diplomats, parliamentarians and a large number of the Pakistanis who are either doing business in Japan or have been there attended the reception to refresh their memories with the delights of Japan.
Jamal Shah in his brief address paid rich compliments to the leadership and people of Japan for their commitment to better their lives and the planet. I very well remember my visit to Japan where I witnessed the best living practices and the Japanese people’s resilience in the face of natural disasters and other challenges. Today, Japan stands as the role model nation for the rest of the world and the relations between Pakistan and Japan have a long history of friendship and cooperation, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Japan ambassador noted, “Feb 23 was a day to celebrate the good health of the Emperor as well as to wish for the health and prosperity of Japanese people. He said not only at the government-to-government level Pak-Japan relations are strengthening, but the individuals are also supporting the friendship between Japan and Pakistan.
“Among around 1,000 Japanese people living in Pakistan, in fact quite many are married to Pakistanis or the children of such international couples. They’ve formed families who love both Japan and Pakistan, and many of such families have made good contributions to Pak-Japan relations,” said the ambassador.
When I visited Sialkot a few months ago, I was surprised and pleased to know that the famous Pakistani businesses that produce soccer balls and surgical instruments were using high-quality Japan-made materials, he further said.
