Press release

Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan’s visit to Islamabad

PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 15-11

Islamabad: 11 March 2015

On March 10th 2015, Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Islamabad for two days.

HE Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane called on Ambassador Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, on 10th March. Mr. Nakane and SAPM Fatemi candidly exchanged their views on the bilateral relations as well as regional issues. Both sides appreciated the recent developments in Japan-Pakistan relations including high-level Pakistani officials’ visits to Japan. Mr. Nakane underscored Japan’s commitments to support its efforts for security improvement and economic and fiscal reforms as a close friend of Pakistan.

H.E. Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane witnessed the signing ceremony of Japan’s grant project to strengthen the flood forecasting system in Pakistan on 10 March 2015. This project will be implemented through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). An agreement to this effect was signed between Mr. Takashi Katae, Charge d’affaires ad interim of Japan to Pakistan and Ms Vibeke Jensen, Representative/Director, UNESCO Islamabad, Pakistan in the presence of Mr. Nakane.

The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, His Excellency Mr. NAKANE made a keynote speech at the inaugural session of the 8th Japan-SAARC Energy Symposium held at NUST on March 10 highlighting Japan’s active cooperation with the SAARC member states in the power sector and reiterated Japan’s commitment to promoting cooperation to develop the full potential of the SAARC.

Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane also had a meeting with H.E Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Water and Power and Federal Minister for Defence on 10 March. He emphasised the importance of regional connectivity and asked the Minister for his cooperation in implementing the recommendations made at the 8th Japan-SAARC Energy Symposium. Mr. Nakane also discussed with the Minister how we could further promote Japan’s development assistance in the energy sector. He further exchanged views on the recent terrorism in Pakistan and other countries and expressed his support to the anti-terrorism measures being taken by the Government of Pakistan.

Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane met Dr. Mifta Ismail, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister/Chairman, Board of Investment on 10 March. In this meeting, Mr. Nakane mentioned that a joint business dialogue is planned to be held between Japan and Pakistan in the near future and this will provide a precious opportunity to discuss ways to further promote investment from Japan to Pakistan.

H.E. Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane met H.E. Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization on 11 March. In this meeting, Mr. Nakane expressed Japan’s continued support for the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to improve security and to implement economic and fiscal reforms. He also exchanged views with the Minister on the recent macroeconomic situation of Pakistan and discussed a way forward to further enhance Japan’s development assistance to Pakistan and promote trade and investment between the two countries.

HE Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane attended a lunch on 11th March, which was hosted by the Pakistan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly of Pakistan. During the talks both sides appreciated the recent successful visit to Japan by the delegation of the Pakistan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group. The delegation has been invited by the House of Representatives of the National Diet of Japan in February and emphasized to further enhance the interaction between parliamentarians of Japan and those of Pakistan. They also exchanged their views on the mutual interests. (End)