he Embassy of Japan hosted a glamorous reception at Serena to celebrate the Japan Self-Defence Forces Day.

The event was attended by Pakistani government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps and luminaries of Islamabad.

Speaking at the event, the Japanese ambassador said: `This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries and we are celebrating the 63rd anniversary of our defence forces. The history of our bilateral relations is longer than that of our post-war defence forces.

Japan Self-Defence Forces Day celebrates the establishment of the Japan Defence Agency and the inauguration of the Japan Ground, Maritime and Air Self Defence Forces on July 1, 1954. The Japan Defence Agency was upgraded to the Ministry of Defence in 2007.

Often engaged in relief activities for people affected by disasters, the guiding principle of the Japanese Defence Forces is `to serve the people always comes first`.

Japan and Pakistan have been cooperating closely in international disaster relied activities and counter-piracy operations in the waters off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden though Combined Task Force 151.

Guests at the event in Serena were also shown a documentary on Japan`s security forces` relief operations across the world during the last year.