4 The Japan Times Thursday, August 14, 2014 Pakistan independence day Ambassador reflects on bilateral relationship On the occasion of Pakistan In- also, a group of Pakistani dependence day, The Japan children visited Japan for two Times had the opportunity to weeks last August. They went interview Pakistan Ambassa- to places such as the Diet, the dor to Japan Farukh amil to Miraikan (National Museum of hear his views on the bilateral Emerging Science and Innova- relationship and other issues. tion), spent a day at a Japanese Excerpts of the interview school with schoolchildren in follow. Minato Ward, amongst many other activities. First of all, let me congratu- We have a very clear focus on late you on the 68th Indepen- education because young peo- dence Day of Pakistan. ple represent the future. We Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Thank you very much. On Pakistani Ambassador Farukh would like to carry out as many Prime Minister of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal (right) meets with Midori Matsushima, state this auspicious occasion, I Amil speaks during a recent similar programs as possible. President of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz minister for economy, trade and investment in Tokyo during his would like to express on behalf interview with The Japan We try to encourage as many Mamnoon Hussain Sharif visit to Japan from Dec. 3 to 7. embAssy of pAkistAn of the government of Pakistan, Times. embAssy of pAkistAn youth as we can to visit Japan, The founder of Pakistan myself and my compatriots in which has a beautiful culture Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad not be friends with such a jodaro from 2,600 B.C. wide variety of music and sheep, goats and chickens in Japan our respectful and sin- visited Japan in early Decem- and the people are peaceful, Ali Jinnah country? upcountry, we have great other entertainment. Pakistan and nutritious buf- cere greetings to Their Impe- ber to discuss energy, infra- law-abiding citizens. young agricultural flatlands in the falo milk is a growing business. rial Majesties Emperor Akihito structure and human resource people not only from Pakistan, was only 4 years old and our There is the Pakistan-Japan Punjab region. Whilst in the Do you recommend Japanese What would be your message and Empress Michiko, mem- development. The minister but all over the world should foreign minister said that “Jap- Friendship Tunnel in Kohat, North, we have beautiful companies directly invest in to Japanese people? What bers of the Imperial family, H.E had 33 meetings in 3 days, un- see how the Japanese live. a anese people need to be treat- northern Pakistan. Its name, mountains. Pakistan is home Pakistan? What business would you say Pakistan can Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the derscoring the importance group of 75 students, ranging ed with dignity and respect.” which recognizes the major to 9 of the world’s 20 highest fields do Japanese companies offer Japanese people? government and friendly peo- Pakistan attaches to its ties from elementary school to uni- This is really the cornerstone contribution by JICA in the mountains, the tallest of which have the best chances in? Please come see our people, ple of Japan. with Japan. Regarding human versity, visited Japan under the of our friendship. When you construction of the tunnel, is is K2. We currently have 76 Japa- experience the country and resource development, I hope abe’s program for youth ex- treat someone with dignity and proof of Pakistani friendship The weather in the far North nese companies operating in enjoy our rich culture, beauti- What are the recent develop- to see more exchanges among change, Jenesys 2.0. respect, you have the base to toward Japan. Why was the is extremely cold with many Pakistan. They are in all kinds ful nature and great food, ments in Pakistan-Japan ex- the youth of both Pakistan and Equally, it’s also important any solution for even the hard- name chosen? glaciers. Pakistan is not only of sectors, including trading, which includes delicious fruit changes in politics, business Japan, including university for Japanese young people to est times, such as the 2010 Pak- It was the natural choice and diverse in climate, but also in manufacturing and finance, — Pakistani mangoes are re- and culture? student exchanges and ex- visit Pakistan. We should also istan floods and the 2011 Great whoever came up with the language, ethnicity and cui- with the Bank of Tokyo (the pre- nowned for their sweetness, We had many exchanges panded employment opportu- have more exchanges of aca- East Japan Earthquake and name picked the perfect one sine, with a huge variety of fruit decessor of the Bank of Tokyo- size and taste and the first over the past year. Last sep- nities for young workers. demia and think tanks espe- tsunami. because our countries truly and vegetables. The Almighty Mitsubishi) having been in batch of Pakistani mangoes tember, on the sidelines of a We also have had several ex- cially through formal We respect Japan as a trust- have a solid friendship. Every allah has blessed Pakistan with Karachi since 1925. Japan also was imported to Japan last year u.N. meeting, the prime min- changes of business delega- mechanisms. I myself have vis- ed partner and the Pakistani time someone passes through wonderful resources. has a dominant presence in and quickly sold out within a isters of both our countries tions and many business ited 23 universities in Japan people will never forget Japan’s the tunnel, they can clearly see hunza, in Northern Paki- Pakistan’s automobile sector. few days — vegetables, rice, held bilateral talks, in which seminars. The idea behind since February 2013 and I hope assistance during the 2005 our relationship represented stan, has recently become We also have established a wheat and many others. they reaffirmed their close these is to encourage Pakistani we will be able to take Paki- earthquake and the 2010 flood. by our two countries’ flags. known in Japan as the “Last special economic zone for Jap- also, come and see the busi- friendship. businessmen to start opera- stan’s wonderful story to many u.N. Secretary General Ban Ki- shangri-La,” because hunza anese companies near Karachi ness opportunities and large several Japanese dignitaries tions in Japan. Although Japan more during my time here. moon called the 2010 flood a Can you recommend any was introduced as such in the and welcome all kinds of com- human potential. Pakistan is a and politicians visited Paki- is said to be a difficult market slow tsunami, damaging an sightseeing venues in Paki- Japanese film “sogen no Isu,” panies to enter the Pakistani food-secure nation that is stra- stan, including an April visit by to penetrate, there are many Pakistan and Japan have a area the size of a middle sized stan? (a Chair on the grass). The market. We would especially tegically located at the cross- deputy Foreign Minister Shin- opportunities in Japan through very close friendship. How country and causing $42 bil- We have so many beautiful 2012 movie tells the story of a like to see companies bring the roads of south, West and suke Sugiyama, who met with business partnerships. In that would you describe it? lion in damage. Japan was in- landscapes and such a variety Japanese man whose life latest technologies in energy, Central asia. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in context, both JICA and JETrO Let me put it this way. At the strumental in providing of climates. The South is per- changed after his travels to infrastructure, fuel-efficient as Japan is a very democrat- Islamabad. also, special ad- have remained traditionally 2013 Karachi Expo trade show, immediate humanitarian aid. petually warm, with the ocean, hunza, the last Shangri-La. The automobiles and machinery as ic country and Pakistan’s de- viser to the Prime Minister helpful. the largest delegation in terms Japan can be counted on as a beautiful deserts and the larg- cast and crew spent about six they will likely enjoy success in mocracy is growing stronger, I Taro Kimura called on Sharif In terms of cultural exchang- of assets was from Japan, in- friend that always helps with- est juniper forest in the world. weeks filming in hunza. Pakistan. would like to see more parlia- last August. In the same month, es, we hold the Pakistan-Japan cluding some CEOs of multi- out a hidden agenda. Flowing through the country, Because we are an agricul- also, there are many pros- mentary exchanges. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Friendship Festival in ueno billion-dollar companies. Pakistan has a very mature Pakistan has five major rivers, tural society, horse and cattle pects in the marine industry. We Pakistan has an abundance for Defense Masahisa Sato vis- Park once a year. This year on Forty-eight delegates came outlook in the sense that Paki- which are like the arteries of life, shows are held all over Paki- have extensive territorial waters of raw materials and excellent ited Pakistan to exchange april 26 and 27, we had main- from Japan. I was pleasantly stan wants to be friends with business and our civilization. stan, the biggest of which is in and Japanese companies could human resources. Also, given views on security with politi- stream singer-songwriters surprised that our joint efforts peace-loving countries. We re- Lahore is the cultural capital Lahore. The National Horse & harness these marine resources Pakistan’s history of friendship cians and military officials. from all across Pakistan from bore fruit. spect all countries’ sovereign and as an imperial city, it’s very Cattle Show in Lahore is held in a sustainable way.