Ambassador’s Speech at the Reception to celebrate the 65th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

 
His Excellency Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce,
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalam-o-alaikum and Good evening.
 
Thank you all for being here today.  On behalf of the Government of Japan, I deeply appreciate your presence.
His Majesty Emperor Naruhito will turn 65 on February 23rd.
It is my great pleasure to celebrate here in Islamabad this 7th birthday since His Majesty’s enthronement.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the good health and happiness of His Majesty, and of you all and your families.
 
I arrived in Pakistan in the late November last year, and already three months have passed.
I have visited Lahore and Karachi as well as some World Heritage sites including Taxila.
I have met hundreds of Pakistani people in person.
It has been very encouraging to hear so many favourable remarks about Japan, such as ‘I respect Japan’ and ‘I trust Japanese people and Japanese goods’, and to know that we have so many friends who wish to strengthen the ties with Japan.
At the same time, I have realised that there still lies an unlimited space for cooperation between our two countries.
 
This year marks 80 years since the end of World War II, meaning the 80th anniversary since the foundation of the United Nations.
From 2023 untill 2024, Japan participated in the United Nations Security Council for the 12th time as a Non-Permanent Member.
Pakistan has succeeded the membership since January this year and is playing an important role as the 8th-time Non-Permanent Member of the Council until the end of next year.
Currently it is our urgent task to restore the peace and stability of the international society, as the rule of law is being challenged in many ways.
Japan is committed to cooperating with Pakistan in order to bring harmony and cooperation to this divided international society.
 
In terms of our bilateral relations, Japan welcomes the Pakistan Government’s firm decision to set the five-year plan, ‘Uraan Pakistan’ to pursue economic growth.
Japan is eager to promote more effective cooperation with Pakistan based on its experience of supporting Pakistan for over 70 years.
 
In Japan, under the leadership of Prime Minister ISHIBA, we are seeking for ‘an enjoyable Japan’, centering around the respect towards human resources.
For this goal, in addition to the crisis management efforts including the strengthening of diplomatic and security posture, disaster prevention and epidemic preparedness, Japan aims to realise a growth-oriented economy led by wage increase and investment.
 
This year marks 73rd year since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan, and 71st year since Japan began providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Pakistan.
Throughout these years, Japan has consistently supported Pakistan in accordance with our assistance philosophy of ‘not only providing fish, but also teaching how to fish’, based on mutual respect and collaboration.
I would like to further promote such development cooperation, including human resource development, that contributes to the improvement of Pakistani people’s lives.
 
I believe that promoting cooperation in human resource development and supply will benefit both countries.
While the Japanese economy is facing labour shortages due to its shrinking younger population, Pakistan has a surplus in the supply of talents.
So, I hope to see more win-win partnerships between Japan and Pakistan.
 
I would also like to expand the people-to-people interaction between our two countries as the Covid-19 pandemic has mostly ended.
It is crucial to deepen our understanding of the realities of each other’s country through active exchanges including high-level visits.
Especially, Japan is hosting the Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, from April until October this year.  As the saying goes, ‘seeing is believing’.
I hope more and more people from Pakistan will visit Japan on this opportunity.  Moreover, it would also be wonderful to see more active cultural interaction between our two countries.
 
Today, with this belief and hope, we have invited the students of the Islamabad Japanese School to perform Japanese drums and ソーラン節 – one of the popular folk dances in Japan.
We also have the exhibitions of Japanese traditional culture, Ikebana and Bonsai, and the displays by JICA and Japanese companies such as Toyota Indus Motors, Suzuki, Honda, and Idemitsu.
In addition, Japanese food, sushi and tempura, cooked by the Japanese Chef of my Official Residence and his assistants, will be served.
I hope you all will enjoy the evening as long as time permits.
 
Please allow me to conclude my remarks by wishing that more active exchanges between Japan and Pakistan lead to a friendship that meets the demand of this new age.
 
Japan Pakistan Dosti Zindabad!
Bohot shukuria!
Thank you very much.