𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐒𝐔 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

   
           Dear all, a Happy New Year!
           I wish you all a wonderful year full of happiness.
 
           It has already been two months since I arrived in Pakistan at the end of November last year. I have had opportunities to meet more than 500 Pakistani people during these two months, and have heard many very positive and fond remarks about Japan, such as “I love Japan,” “I respect Japan,” “I trust Japanese people and products.” I feel delighted that I was able to become the Ambassador in this country, which has so many friends who cherish the Pak-Japan relationship.
 
           This year marks 80 years since the end of World War Two, and 70 years since the Bandung Conference, where non-aligned countries including Japan and Pakistan gathered. The Government of Pakistan showed a clear determination to keep promoting economic development by announcing the five-year plan of “URAAN Pakistan” at the end of last year. Moreover, Pakistan is expected to play a large role for the maintenance of international peace and security as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council from this January until the end of next year. There lies a vast space for cooperation in many fields between Japan and Pakistan.
 
           In this year, as Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, I would like to work especially focusing on the following three aspects.
           First, I am going to further promote development cooperation that helps improve the lives of Pakistani people, including human resource development. Last year marked 70 years since Japan began its official development assistance (ODA) to Pakistan. I will continue ODA that is based on Japan’s philosophy about assistance that “Not only providing fish, but also teaching how to fish”, as well as the principles of mutual respect and mutual support.

           Second, I intend to enhance people-to-people interaction between Japan and Pakistan. Japan is hosting Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan from April till October this year. I hope more and more people from Pakistan will visit Japan on this occasion, including high-level dignitaries.
           Third, I aim to strengthen cooperation in the areas of human resource development and supply. While Japanese economy faces labour shortages due to an aging society, Pakistan has a surplus in the supply of talents. I hope for more win-win matching collaboration between our two countries.
 
           Last but not least, my biggest wish as Ambassador is that Japanese people here can live safely and securely, and Japanese companies can do their business smoothly. For that goal, all the staff of the Embassy of Japan are committed to making efforts and providing professional services. Please feel free to contact the Embassy any time when you have a problem or an inquiry.
 
           Please allow me to conclude my remarks by wishing for this year to be one of deepening Pak-Japan ties with the warm support and cooperation of more people from Japan and Pakistan.
 
 
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan
AKAMATSU Shuichi