Pakistan, on Tuesday, took Japan aboard to further bolster the bilateral ties on both leadership as well as mass level. According to Radio Pakistan, the two countries expressed this resolve during a meeting held between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and members of Japan-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship League at the Japanese parliament in Tokyo. The two sides also agreed to explore further opportunities in trade, investment and other mutual areas. Minister Qureshi acknowledged the role and efforts of the Friendship League to further the mutually beneficial bilateral ties. He also conferred Hilal Pakistan Award upon Sheshiro Eto to recognise his services to promote relations between Pakistan and Japan. The foreign minister also addressed a working luncheon hosted in his honour by Japan-Pakistan Business Cooperation Committee Chairman Teruo Asada in Tokyo. Qureshi invited Japanese companies to invest in the information technology sector, small and medium enterprises and agriculture value chains. He also encouraged members of the Japanese business committee to visit Pakistan to further explore the potential for trade and investment. Pakistan had a long-standing trade and investment relationship with Japan and there is a need to build upon the reserve of goodwill, understanding and respect for brand Japan in Pakistan, he maintained. Elaborating on the economic agenda of the incumbent government, Qureshi noted, “We are determined to overcome the current economic challenges through peace-oriented, investment-friendly, development-focused and people-centred strategies.” The two sides also exchanged views on efforts to eliminate obstacles and overcome difficulties, which obstructed the smooth flow of mutual trade and investment. The chairman also expressed satisfaction on the growing trade and investment relations. He said a parliamentary delegation from Pakistan would visit Japan at the earliest. Minister Qureshi elaborated on the economic agenda of the incumbent government. He claimed they were determined to overcome the current economic challenges through peace-oriented, investment-friendly, development-focused and people-centred strategies. Qureshi, who was in Japan on a three-day official visit, would next travel to Beijing to participate in the Belt and Road Forum, where he would present the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor programme.