Ambassadors of Japan, Cuba call on Durrani
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Japanese Ambassadors Seiji Kojima and Cuban Ambassador Gustavo Machin Gomez on Tuesday separately called on the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Muhammad Ali Durrani and discussed matters of mutual interest.
Talking to the Japanese Ambassador here, the Minister said Pakistan and Japan shared their perceptions on global issues and have common desire for peace and stability in the region and the world.
He said Japan is a leading economic force of the Asian continent and it can help the growing economies like Pakistan in expediting their development.
He said Japan's investment in Pakistan was tremendous and there was great potential to further increase it.
Senator Durrani said Japan had a vast experience of combating the calamities like earthquake and Pakistan wanted to benefit from the expertise and technologies of Japan for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake affected areas.
Talking to the Cuban Ambassador, the Minister said the expanding economic horizons of Pakistan's economy presented tremendously vast and bright opportunities for the foreign investors.
The Cuban investors can play important role by becoming partners in progress and prosperity in Pakistan, the Minister said.
Senator Durrani appreciated Cuban government for its help during October last earthquake in AJK and NWFP and offering 1000 scholarships for Pakistani students to pursue studies in General Comprehensive Medicine (Equivalent to MBBS) in Cuba.
He also lauded the role of Cuban medical teams which worked relentlessly in the quake-hit areas to provide medical facilities to the affected people.
The Minister said the entire nation was grateful for the assistance by the Japan and Cuban governments for the earthquake affected areas. The Minister also briefed the ambassadors about the role and working of National Volunteer Movement (NVM).
Cuban Ambassador appreciated the rapid speed of economic progress in Pakistan in the past few years.