Japan Defence Minister Kono Taro in a video conversation with Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa appreciated Pakistan’s “successful fight” against Covid-19 and measures against locust.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday, matters of mutual interest, military to military ties, defence and security cooperation and Pakistan’s commitment for Covid-19 were discussed during the virtual meeting.
ISPR press release says Japan lauds Pakistan Army efforts
“The dignitary commended the role of Pakistan for regional peace and stability, especially the efforts of Pakistan Army in battling the scourge of terrorism,” the military’s media wing said.
Pakistan's Army Chief General Bajwa discussed defense cooperation with Japan's Defense Minister Taro Kono during a video conference. Japanese Minister urged for continued and strengthened bilateral defense ties 🇵🇰🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/SDxS43gSKW
— Sana Jamal (@Sana_Jamal) August 6, 2020
Both sides agreed to resume staff-level talks as soon as coronavirus situation improves and enhance bilateral defence cooperation, especially in the fields of training, joint exercises and anti-piracy measures, it added.
General Qamar thanked the defence minister for offering assistance against locust threat.
Read more: After WHO, Japan lauds Pakistan’s efforts in tackling Coronavirus pandemic
In June, the Japanese government in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and some private firms, had pledged to provide insecticide to Pakistan for supporting its fight against the desert locust’s attacks.
Pakistan is facing the worst locust attack in many decades. The government had deployed more than 1,100 teams of army and agriculture and food security departments for anti-locust operation in 49 affected districts of the country.
Japan-Pakistan Army defence ties to be strengthened
Minister Kono explained the Japan Self-Defence Forces’ activities on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, activities to take measures at the airport and to prevent community spread infection, infection-preventative measures undertaken in their operation which resulted in having no deployed member infected with the virus, and analysis by the SDF Central Hospital by using a presentation document.
Read more: Japan no longer the little brother obeying Washington’s orders?
General Qamar Javed Bajwa also explained the recent activities and measures taken in Pakistan.
Furthermore, the two parties exchanged views on defence cooperation between Japan and Pakistan. And Minister Kono pointed out the importance of both countries’ maintaining seamless defence posture and continued and strengthened bilateral defence cooperation to uphold and reinforce the Free and Open Indo-Pacific taking into consideration the implication of COVID-19.
Japan provides HRD scholarships for Pakistan
The Government of Japan also announced grant aid worth around 318 million Japanese Yen for the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) program in Pakistan.
Matsuda Kuninori the Ambassador of Japan in Pakistan, and Noor Ahmed, Secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs, signed an Exchange of Notes (E/N) on this program. A Grant Agreement (G/A) for the aforementioned program was also signed between Rahman Shah, Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs and Shigeki Furuta, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office.
Read more: How Japan successfully dodged coronavirus despite congested cities?
JDS is designed to support social and economic development of the country by providing government officials an opportunity to obtain Master’s or Doctoral degree in Japan in order to strengthen the administrative capacity of officials. The participants of JDS program who are involved in formulation and implementation of policies are expected to learn in partner universities in Japan and acquire knowledge of their specialties as well as the know-hows of how Japan became a country as it is today.
Japanese Prime Minister's Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs called on Pakistan's Army Chief and acknowledged Pakistan’s positive role in the region. Japan-Pakistan reiterated their desire to further enhance bilateral relations including efforts for peace, security in the region. pic.twitter.com/B6pgpHeGxD
— Emerging Pakistan (@dev9_) December 23, 2019
As JDS in Pakistan was started from 2018 and has four batches in consecutive four years, Pakistan is experiencing the third batch of the program this year. For the third batch, the maximum number of the slots for JDS participants in Pakistan are 18 seats for Master’s degree and two seats for Doctoral degree.
Japanese are invested in Pakistan’s economic growth
Earlier, it was revealed that Japan has desired a modernised, economically developed and strong Pakistan saying that in order to achieve this, the country must have to follow policy of export led growth through industrial and technological growth. “Japan has set an example for the rest of the world to emerge as a top world economy by modernising its education system, hard work and commitment,” Embassy of Japan in Pakistan Deputy Head of Mission and Minister, Yusuke Shindo said.
Read more: Why did Japan reject US missile defence system
He said this while addressing a five-day Webinar series titled “Knowing Japan” jointly organized by the Embassy of Japan in collaboration with the Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) here Sunday. Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, SHINDO Yusuke presented his lectures during this first-ever webinar series that included the topics, “Japan- its people, society and tradition, education in Japan-key to Japan’s development”,” secrets of Japan’s economic development”, and “Japanese culture and Japan-Pakistan relationship”.
GVS News Desk with additional input by other sources