Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda by H.E. Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

May 24, 2012

(Japanese)

On Thursday, May 24, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda received a courtesy call from H.E. Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, who was visiting Japan as a Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (The meeting was attended by Mr. Seishiro Eto, Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Japan Pakistan Parliamentarians Friendship League, Mr. Akihisa Nagashima, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, and others). An overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Prime Minister Noda welcomed Minister Khar’s visit to Japan, and stated that he would like to further develop the long-standing friendly relationship between the two countries, as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Noda also expressed his gratitude for the kind words of encouragement and various supports extended by Pakistan in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as for the emergency transportation of Japanese tourists by the Government of Pakistan in April this year. Minister Khar expressed deep appreciation for the various assistance provided by Japan thus far for disaster relief and development, stating that Japan has always stood by Pakistan, and stressed that it is a duty of Pakistan to provide such support as mentioned by Prime Minister Noda.
2. Prime Minister Noda stated that he would like to develop the Comprehensive Partnership between Japan and Pakistan based on the joint statement signed last year during the visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Prime Minister Noda and Minister Khar decided that both countries would make efforts to strengthen bilateral economic relations including in the areas of trade and investment, with improvement of the security situation in Pakistan. Prime Minister Noda expressed his hope that polio eradication support provided by Japan in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will lead to the elimination of the disease.
3. Prime Minister Noda, while appreciating the efforts by the Government of Pakistan to combat terrorism with its great sacrifice, expressed his hope that Pakistan plays a significant role for the stability and development of the region including Afghanistan. Minister Khar stated that Pakistan had been making efforts to build a better relationship with Afghanistan under the leadership of President Zardari and Prime Minister Mr. Yousaf Raza Gilani, and that it would continue to address the Afghanistan issue as a facilitator for peace and stability in the region.