SENDAI (Japan): Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi is in Japan to represent Pakistan in the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Mr Fatemi attended the opening session of the event which has attracted hundreds of world leaders, specialists and experts on climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Mr Fatemi also held a meeting with Foreign Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida.

Expressing gratitude for Pakistan’s participation and support to the event, Mr Kishida stated that Japan looked forward to sharing knowledge on disaster risk reduction with Pakistan, which itself has suffered from natural disasters in past.

He appreciated Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts against terrorism and expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan, while assuring him of his country’s continued support for the policies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Mr Fatemi thanked Mr Kishida and conveyed greetings from the PM Sharif to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and the people of Japan.

Mr Fatemi briefed the Japanese foreign minister on government’s economic policies, as well as efforts to promote a peaceful neighbourhood in South Asia.

He urged increased Japanese interest in investment opportunities in Pakistan, as well as provision of greater market access to Pakistan, emphasising the linkage between economic growth and the need to confront terrorism, stressing that the energy and infrastructure sectors in Pakistan presented huge investment opportunities.

The Japanese foreign minister assured Mr Fatemi that his government was giving serious consideration to these issues.

Mr Fatemi appreciated the successful holding of the Japan-Saarc Energy Symposium in Islamabad last week and thanked the government of Japan for its efforts to promote peaceful cooperation and connectivity in South Asia.

Mainichi Shimbun, Japan’s second largest circulated daily interviewed Mr Fatemi soon after his arrival in the country.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2015

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