Courtesy Call from Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of Pakistan (Summary)
July 3, 2023
[Provisional translation]
On July 3, commencing at 3:30 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, who is visiting to Japan. The summary of the courtesy call is as follows.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida welcomed Minister Bhutto’s visit to Japan and expressed his desire to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan, a traditional friend of Japan, in all areas. In response, Minister Bhutto expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support to date and his expectations for further strengthening bilateral relations with Japan.
- Prime Minister Kishida stated that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force must not be tolerated anywhere in the world, and stressed the importance of fully defending a free and open international order based on the rule of law. In response, Minister Bhutto stated that Pakistan hopes to work closely with Japan.
