Shaukat arrives in Japan

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here on Monday for talks with Japanese business and political leaders expected to focus on economic co-operation. The Prime Minister timed his visit to attend the World Exposition, a six-month showcase of technology and innovation under way in the central prefecture of Aichi.
Shaukat is expected to explore ways to expand access to the Japanese market, as the bilateral trade balance is heavily in Japan's favour. He will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday with political leaders including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
The two last met in April when Koizumi visited Islamabad and announced the resumption of low-interest loans, which Japan suspended after Pakistan and India carried out nuclear tests in 1998.
Earlier, onboard his special plane, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told accompanying journalists Pakistan would offer Japan exclusive export processing zones (EPZs) to re-locate its high-tech industry for export of its products to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
"It would be a tax-fee zone and would offer numerous incentives for the Japanese investors," Shaukat Aziz told newsmen onboard his special flight to Japan.
He said Pakistan offers cheap labour, has strategic location and would serve as a hub for Japan's industry to expand its trade and capture new markets.
The Prime Minister, whose delegation includes a group of top businessmen from Pakistan, said he was looking forward to expand country's economic and commercial ties with one of the leading economies of the world.
Apart from seeking co-operation in high-tech industry, the IT, infrastructure development, he said, tourism was a key area where the two countries could extend interaction.
He said last year around 7000 Japanese tourists visited Pakistan. "But we would like to multiply this figure," he added.
The Prime Minister said the ancient Gandhara civilisation created a strong linkage between the two countries and said the country was working on a plan to provide better facilities and special offers for tourists.
He said Pakistan would also like to increase number of flights from Japan by adding more flights of PIA and allowing permission to the Japanese airline. He said to cater to the growing demand, chartered flights of PIA or other domestic carriers can also be considered.
Replying to a question about UN reforms, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has a principled position and Japan was well aware of it.
"Our stand is based on principles of equity and democracy and we have the highest regard for the people and government of Japan," he added.
Regarding Pakistan's position on nuclear non-proliferation, he said: "Pakistan is strongly against proliferation by any country. We are a declared nuclear power, our nuclear programme is under adequate command and control regime."
Answering a question, he said Pakistan also believes in a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.
When asked about the pace of peace progress with India and what future holds, the Prime Minister said: "Pakistan was committed to the peace process as it desires peace with India and resolution of all outstanding disputes, including the issue of Kashmir."He, however, said a serious effort was needed by both the sides to achieve that goal and added Pakistan was playing its role in this regard.
About the trade between the two countries, the Prime Minister said limited trade was going on.
Pakistan has no restrictions on trade with other countries except India, as Pakistan would like overall improvement in the atmosphere, which in turn would lead to progress towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute, he added.
Regarding the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, he said latest news from India was that they seemed interested in the project. He said the project was beneficial for both the countries and if India opts not to join, Pakistan would go ahead anyway.
He said the country would take a final decision by the end of the year over which gas project to choose from the three - Iran-Pakistan, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and Qatar-Pakistan - that it was considering. He said a financial adviser would soon be appointed for the project.