KHAIRPUR: Japan`s Consul General in Karachi Akira Ouchi on Sunday delivered a lecture at the international relations department of the Shah Abdul Latif University and explained his country`s diplomacy and international contribution.

He also shed light on Japan-Pakistan relations.

`Japan is a pro-active contributor to peace in the world and its policy is based on the principle of international cooperation. We have constantly followed the path of peace like any peace-loving nation since the end of World War II,` he said.

Japan had declared in the UN General Assembly in September 2013 that it was pursuing the policy of promoting women participation in society; empowerment of women by engaging them in greater efforts in the fields of health and medical care; and encouraging women participation and ensuring their protection in the area of peace and security, he said.

Mr Ouchi said Japan had allocated official development assistance (ODA) in excess of $3 billion over the next three years to achieve these goals.

He said that South Asia with a population of over 1.6 billion was becoming increasingly important on the international scene.

He said Pakistan has great potential of development in the future.

`The key to success is education. Basic education for all and higher education, especially in the area of science and technology, is important in economic development, he stressed.

He said Japan established diplomatic ties with Pakistan in 1952 and the two countries had been maintaining a friendly relationship throughout the period.

The diplomat said that Japan had dispatched its election observation mission at the time of the recent general election.

`Our observation was that Pakistan successfully held the general election fair and transparent in a democratic way and the government was transferred democratically, Mr Ouchi said.

He said that since 1954, Japan had been extending its ODA to Pakistan. The cumulative amount of the ODA up to 2012 was about $6.67 billion, he said.

`Pakistan is a country with great potential for economic growth and Karachi is the key area of such economic growth. The country has manpower and natural resourcessuchascopperand coal,` he observed.

The lecture was followed by a question-answer session.

Later, the consul general visited the university`s archaeology and anthropology museum.

The cultural & public affairsofficialattheJapanese consulate in Karachi, Hiroko Tsuchiya, Prof Monis Ayaz Shaikh, Imdad Hussain Chandio, Salu faculty members and students attended the lecture.