Strengthening ties: Parliamentary exchanges important in consolidating Pak-Japan ties: envoy

event provided an opportunity for Pakistani parliamentarians and Japan’s senior representative to exchange views

ISLAMABAD:

Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata on Tuesday hosted a dinner at his residence in honour of the Pakistan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group in the National Assembly.

The event provided an opportunity for Pakistani parliamentarians and Japan’s senior-most representative in the country to exchange views on a number of issues of mutual interest while enjoying a scrumptious meal.

Ambassador Inomata said at the event that since the group’s last gathering a year back, Pakistan has had an eventful year, with the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the dharnas in Islamabad, and the terrible incident in Peshawar, among other things.



He then shifted focus to Pak-Japan relations, noting that two parliamentary delegations went to Japan over the same period to exchange ideas with elected officials in the Land of the Rising Sun. He noted that parliamentary exchanges between Japan and Pakistan played an important role in consolidating their bilateral relations, and pledged his continuous support in promoting interaction between parliamentarians in both countries.

He also noted that a corresponding visit to Pakistan by a Japanese parliamentary delegation was delayed due to the Safoora Goth bus attack in Karachi, which left at least 47 dead.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the senior-most parliamentarian in the room, said Japan has been with us through thick and thin for 60 years. On the delegations, he said a strong parliament-to-parliament relationship is the need of the hour, while explaining that, “Democracy is gaining a foothold in Pakistan, but we need all the help we can get from democratic governments around the world. We need more interaction with your parliamentarians so we can learn from them.”

He also referred to the great investment potential in Pakistan, despite security issues.

Sadiq later referenced Japan’s economic rise and Pakistan’s potential. “Despite constraints, Japan has excelled as an economic power. Once we get rid of the terrorists, we can also excel.”

PM’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Pakistan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group Convener and PM’s Youth Loan Programme Chairperson Leila Khan, and other parliamentarians and embassy officials were also in attendance.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2015.