Japanese ambassador hosts reception

Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai hosted a reception at his residence to celebrate the conferment of the Sitara-i-Pakistan upon Kimihide Ando, the CEO of the Mitsubishi Corporation Pakistan, by the government of Pakistan on March 23.

The japanese senior deputy minister for foreign affairs Kazuyuki Yamazaki, who was in Pakistan for the fifth High Level Economic Policy Dialogue, also attended the event.

Ambassador Kurai congratulated Mr Ando saying: “I am impressed by the way Mr Ando worked for the broader development of this country and region as a whole. Mr Ando loves Pakistan and its people and it is an honour for the Japanese government to see a Japanese citizen awarded this prestigious award.”

Mr Ando thanked the ambassador for hosting the reception, and said that he was grateful to the Pakistani people he had had an opportunity to interact or work with during his stay in Pakistan.

He said: “All the people I have associated with have made me more passionate about Pakistan. Pakistani people and its business community have strengthened my confidence in Pakistan.”

Italian National Day celebrated

Italian ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo welcomed guests to a hall at the Serena Hotel, beautifully decorated in the colours of the Italian flag, to celebrate the country’s national day last week.

As the guests entered, they noticed a series of the ‘statutes’ in historic costumes, only to realise with a closer look that they were real people.

“It was a bit spooky and I am glad it was all in a well lit room with many people around, not outdoors on a gloomy evening without moonlight,” said a guest. She added that she had admired the display of Italian dresses, and the romantic songs performed by Italian and Pakistani singers.

“There was elegance and joy in the several formal ceremonies, the musical entertainment and even in the food presentation,” another guest remarked.

Ambassador Pontecorvo highlighted in his speech that Italy and Pakistan enjoy excellent diplomatic relations, and a number of Pakistanis are foreign workers in Italy and some have moved to the country for good.

He mentioned trade relations with Pakistan, and drew special attention to the successful aid and academic cooperation in the field of archaeology in Swat.

Federal Education Minister Mohammad Balighur Rehman, who was invited as chief guest, underlined in his speech the cooperation Pakistan enjoys with Italy, with potential for increase in trade.

Chinese envoy speaks at Oxbridge Society

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing was invited by the Oxbridge Society to give its monthly lecture for April last week.

Ambassador Jing acknowledged the importance of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Pak-China relations, but said several times that relations were broader than the investment programme. In his lecture, he gave a brief overview of China’s history and underlined that the country’s deliberate foreign policy was only being developed.

He said that western China, close to Pakistan, lags behind the east of the country in many development fields.

About Afghanistan, Mr Jing said the country wants peace but that it was not yet under its own control. During the question and answer session, one participant suggested that more Pakistani should be employed for CPEC projects, while another expressed concerns about the colonisation of Pakistan.

“The time of colonisation is over. Besides, China suffered from being colonised itself,” Ambassaor Jing said.

Oxbrige Secretary General Irshadullah Khan was full of praise for the ambassador’s lecture.

“Unlike his usual quite long closing speeches, he was quite measured this time. I think he was simply impressed,” said a smiling guest.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2018