HYDERABAD, Dec 5: Japan is concerned over peace and security in South Asia, particularly Pakistan-India conflict, which has affected development process in Pakistan and investment and economic cooperation from foreign countries.
This was stated by the Consul-General of Japan based in Karachi, Kanji Hanagata, while delivering a lecture on “Japan’s Concern Over South Asian Security” to mark the Japan Day celebration here on Wednesday.
The lecture was organized by the Japan Cultural Centre, Karachi, in collaboration with the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association, Sindh.
The Japanese consul-general dwelt at length on the nuclear nightmare in South Asia and traced the history of hostilities between India and Pakistan.
He said that the Japanese people’s commitment to peace was based on their bitter memories of horrifying destruction caused by nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
He said that more than 500,000 people had died in the two cities as a result of nuclear bombing and warned that contemporary nuclear devices were far more powerful as one of them was capable of killing 12 million people.
About Pakistan-Japan relations, he said that the two nations had demonstrated respect for each other at international and bilateral forums.
He said that in the Japanese foreign policy, Pakistan was considered as one of the most important countries of South Asia and a major role-player, specifically in the region and the Muslim world.
Mr Hanagata said that Pakistan was a significant country for several countries due to its geo-political importance but his country also valued it as it was one of the most important economic and business partner of Japan.
He also spoke about Japan’s role in peace building, conflict prevention, humanitarian aid in emergency and rehabilitation process and its contribution in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
JAPANESE FESTIVAL: An Ikebana demonstration was organized by the Japan Cultural Centre, Consulate General of Japan, Karachi, in collaboration with the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association, Sindh, at the Sindh Museum here on Wednesday.
It was organized as one of the events of a two-day Japanese festival being held at Hyderabad.
The consul-general of Japan, Kanji Hanagata, and the secretary, Information, Government of Sindh, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, attended the event as chief guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hanagata said that being Asians, the people of Japan and Pakistan have a common taste for beautiful things. He said that Ikebana was an art which cuts across age, society and cultures and can be enjoyed by all.