04 August 2004	Wednesday	17 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain held a meeting with Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.

The international campaign against terrorism and the vital role being played by Pakistan in this regard, recent developments in Pakistan-India relations and the situation in Afghanistan also came under discussion, said a message received here from Tokyo on Tuesday.

The speaker expressed appreciation for the economic and technical assistance extended by Japan to Pakistan over the years. The first parliamentary delegation from Pakistan to Japan in the past nine years is currently visiting Japan on the invitation of the Japanese government.

Led by the National Assembly's Speaker, the delegation comprises Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Saifullah Khan Tiwana and MNA Dev Das. The Pakistani delegation also visited the Japanese Parliament and observed the proceedings of the House of Councillors (the Upper House).

Mitsuo Horiuchi, president of the Japan-Pakistan Parliamentarian's Friendship League feted the visiting Parliamentary delegation. -APP