Talking to outgoing Ambassador of Japan Chihiro Atsumi here at the PM House, Prime Minister Gilani said there was a vast potential of trade and investment between the two countries.

The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that relations between Pakistan and Japan in all fields, particularly economic, had the inherent capacity to acquire new heights.

He said that high-level visits and exchange of parliamentary delegations would help strengthen the people-to-people relations, that were indeed everlasting and formed the basis for meaningful political and economic ties.

He said that the government-to-government and people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Japan had helped build up a dependable partnership in various sectors.

Prime Minister Gilani also expressed solidarity and sympathy on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan over the tragic disaster caused by the earthquake and the tsunami and extended support for the affected people.

He also thanked the government and the people of Japan for the assistance provided to Pakistan during the earthquake of 2005 and the devastating floods in 2010. He appreciated the role of Japan in the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) forum to help raise financial support in confronting the economic and security challenges.

He said despite passing through most difficult times because of global recessions, floods and regional security, Pakistan was committed to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

The Ambassador of Japan thanked the Prime Minister for expressing solidarity with the government and the people of Japan over the earthquake in Japan. He also appreciated the assistance and support extended by Pakistan to Japan.

The Ambassador proposed that next year being the 60th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries, be marked as a milestone in further expanding their bilateral relations.

He agreed with the Prime Minister that the people-to-people contacts helped build up sustained relationship between the two countries. He emphasized on increased interaction between the private sector businessmen of the two countries.