ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday sought to bolster relations with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after she was re-elected to the Asian nation’s top office.
“Congratulations to HE Ms Sanae Takaichi @takaichi_sanae on her re-election as the Prime Minister of Japan,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X.
He added that Pakistan looked forward to continuing cooperation with the Japanese premier to further strengthen and diversify bilateral ties.
“We look forward to continue working with Prime Minister Takaichi to further strengthen and diversify our excellent bilateral relations with Japan,” he said.
Takaichi, Japan’s first female leader, secured a historic election victory on Sunday as her Liberal Democratic Party won 316 seats out of 465 in parliament’s lower house — its best ever performance.
With coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, Takaichi now controls 352 seats, giving her a two-thirds supermajority that will ease her legislative agenda, including the ability to override the upper chamber where she does not hold a majority.
“This election involved major policy shifts — particularly a major shift in economic and fiscal policy, as well as strengthening security policy,” Takaichi said in a television interview as results came in.
“These are policies that have drawn a great deal of opposition. If we have received the public’s support, then we truly must tackle these issues with all our strength,” she added.
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US President Donald Trump also congratulated Takaichi, wishing her success in advancing what he called a “Peace Through Strength” agenda.
Trump said her decision to call for an election had paid off, adding that he would host her at the White House next month.
Takaichi, 64, called the rare winter snap election to capitalise on her rising approval ratings since taking leadership of the long-ruling LDP late last year.
While voters have been drawn to her straightforward image, analysts note that her nationalist leanings and emphasis on security have strained ties with China, while her proposed tax cuts have unsettled financial markets.