70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relation Between Pakistan and Japan (2022-1)

Pakistan and Japan enjoy traditionally friendly ties characterized by mutual trust, cooperation, people-to-people contacts, cultural and civilizational linkages. Historical links between the people of the two countries date back to pre-historic times. The Gandhara and Indus Valley civilizations and cotton trade were some of the means of old contact betweeen the two countries.

2. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 28th April 1952. Pakistan was among the first in few countries that ratified the Japan Peace Treaty. Unlinke majority Asian countries, Pakistan waived War Reparations due from Japan. During the 1951 San Francisco Peace Conference, Pakistan argued that Japan should be treated with respact and not with vengeance. Post War Japan's first ever Trade Agreement was with Pakistan. Pakistan was also one of the first countries that established a Trade Office in Japan (1948), while the latter also set up its earliest Trade office in Karachi that catered to the entire region. Textiles was the only industry initially allowed to operate by the US in Japan. Hence, Pakistan played a leading role in Japan's post war economic revival by exporting large amounts of cotton and jute to Japan on deferred payments. Japan in return provided us with textile machinery in lieu of our exports.

3. During the Korean War and in the Cold War, Pakistan and Japan found themselves on the same side of the divide. Within the first decade of Pakistan's independence, some 50 multinational Japanese companies had already set up their offices, mainly for trading purposes. The third overseas branch of the Bank of Tokyo was established in Karachi in 1953 and the metropolitan was also selected for opening the second office of the Japan External Trade Organization. After the US, Pakistan was the second largest trading partner of Japan, mainly catering to Japan's need for raw material, such as jute and cotton, and fulfilling over 50 percent of their requirement. During the 1960s, Pakistan occupied a prominent place in the allocation of Japanese assistance to the developing world and remained among the top recipients in the region, Japanese assistance came in the form of Yen Loan Assistance for development projects, grant assistance for social sector projects and technical cooperation for technology transfer and human resource development.

Japanese assistance was used for mega projects as well as for industrialization. Development projects of significance that were funded by Japan include the telephone exchanges throughout Pakistan, Thermal Power Station Jamshoro, Indus Highway, Kohat tunnel, Bin Qasim Thermal Power Station, the Construction Machinery Training Centre, Pakistan's first ever dedicated Children's Hospital, and countless others in the social sectors.

5. In the 1980's bilateral relations were further bolstered due to Pakistan's role in securing the withdrawal of the Soviet forces from Afghanistan and the sea lanes security through which Japan received bulk of its oil. Although bilateral relations saw a difficult phase following the nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan in 1998, the engagement at the political level continued.

6. The August 2000 visit to Pakistan by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori signaled Japan's desire to continue highest-level engagement with Pakistan. President Pervez Musharraf visited Japan in 2000. Since 2001, Japan has also been highly appreciative of Pakistan's vital role in the War against terrorism. It also extended humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in the wake of 2005 earthquake.

7. During the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Pakistan in 2005, Pakistan-Japan Joint Declaration entitled "Pakistan-Japan at a new Frontier, Towards a Renewed, Enhanced and Robust relationship" was signed. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited Japan in August 2005. Recognizing the geopolitical importance of Pakistan and appreciating its role in fighting terrorism, Japan announced further expanding strong collaboration at all levels.

8. Japan welcomed the 2007 return of democracy in Pakistan. It not only hosted the Friends of Democratic Pakistan and Donors' Conference in Tokyo in April 2009, but also pledged US$1 billion at the Conference. Japan also come forward to assist Pakistan in its flood relief and rescue operations. It announced contributions for flood relief and rehabilitation efforts at the Pakistan Development Forum in November 2010.

9. Pakistan on its part expressed its solidarity and support to the government and the people of Japan in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011. Pakistan provided two C-130 aircraft loaded with relief goods to Japan. The Pakistani community in Japan went out of its way in helping the survivors by providing them food, disposable water bottles and other goods, and voluntarily worked in the shelters to provide them relief which was greatly appreciated by the Government of Japan. During the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to Japan in 2011, the two sides signed the Joint Statement on Japan- Pakistan Comprehensive Partnership, which provided an impetus to further bolster ties. Both the visits provided an impetus to strong bilateral ties.

10. Pakistan is now offering a Special Economic Zone to the Japanese with attractive benefits such as sole ownership, tax exemptions, repatriation of earnings and single window operations. The Board of Investment set up for this purpose is making efforts, whereas the National Industrial Parks, another organization under the Industries Ministry, is offering developed industrial estates in different provinces at very reasonable terms. Japanese businessmen as well as the Japanese government have been in discussions with their counterparts on this matter. Such combined efforts portraying public-private partnership would bring about meaningful results to attract joint ventures for Pakistan, which in turn would provide job and business opportunities to Pakistanis.

11. Moreover, Pakistan among other things is now focusing on exports of Agri products to Japan. In 2020, Pakistan became the largest exporter of dates to Japan. Pakistan's mango exports to Japan have also witnessed an exponential increase in the last two years. There is a natural complementarily between the two countries in the field of Pakistani manpower export to Japan as Japan is witnessing a shrinking population and Pakistan has a young population. The two sides have signed MoUs such as: Technical Intern Training Programme as well as Specified Skilled Workers Programme under which Pakistan foresees semi- skilled and highly skilled workers (IT Sector) making their way to the Japanese market in the near future.

12. In September 2021, the Foreign Minister of the two countries met on the sidelines of UNGA. Pakistan in August 2021, helped in Japan's evacuation efforts from Afghanistan which has been greatly appreciated by the Japanese government. In May 2021, Prime Minister Imran Khan became the first ever Prime Minister of Pakistan to give a keynote address at the "Future of Asia" conference organized

by Nikkei Inc. Another recent milestone was the signing of the MoU on Defence Cooperation between the two countries. On the economic and trade front, Toyota Japan provided a fresh investment of USD100 million for assembling hybrid vehicles in Pakistan.

13. To mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2022, several events have been planned to be held throughout the year both in Japan and Pakistan to befittingly commemorate the years long friendship between the two countries.

On 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relation Between Pakistan and Japan, Pakistan Post is issuing the Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs 20/- denomination on January 1, 2022.