Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel and Emperor of Japan Naruhito met in Tokyo on February 2. President Paudel, who is on a four-day visit to Japan, paid a courtesy call on Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
At the invitation of the Japanese government, President Paudel, along with First Lady Sabita Paudel, led a Nepali delegation to attend a special ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan.
During the meeting, President Paudel highly appreciated Japan’s assistance. He said that Japan has played an important and reliable role as a development partner in Nepal’s social and economic development.
“Japan is supporting Nepal in areas such as human resources, health, agriculture, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and cultural preservation, and Nepal and Nepalis have benefited greatly from this,” President Paudel said during the conversation with Emperor Naruhito, according to President Paudel’s Press Advisor, Kiran Pokharel.
President Paudel also said that both countries are inspired by the teachings and ideals of Gautam Buddha. “Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, has served as a strong bridge to strengthen the relationship between the people of Nepal and Japan,” President Paudel said.
President Paudel said that the long-standing relationship between the two countries, based on history, culture, and mutual cooperation, has progressed with closer and deeper friendship since the establishment of diplomatic relations. “The 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations that we are celebrating this year is a milestone in the bilateral relationship established between us,” President Paudel said.
Stating that the exchange of high-level visits has further strengthened relations between the two countries, President Paudel recalled the visit of Emperor Naruhito to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, and Lumbini during his friendly and distinguished visit as a prince in 1987. He also expressed his gratitude to the Emperor and the Government of Japan for conferring on him the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 2020. President Paudel expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for its goodwill and support on behalf of the Government and people of Nepal and invited the Emperor and the Empress to visit Nepal at a suitable time.
On the occasion, Emperor Naruhito said that the anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations should be celebrated with joy. He mentioned that the memory of his visit to Nepal in 1987 was still fresh in his mind.
Emperor Naruhito mentioned that he was inspired to study water issues after seeing women carrying water jugs for drinking water during his trek to Sarangkot in Pokhara. He said that Japan would provide Nepal with as much assistance as possible, recalling that both countries have been helping each other in times of natural disasters. Emperor Naruhito also said that Japan had honored President Paudel for his contribution to the development of Nepal-Japan relations.
On February 2, President Paudel addressed a program with members of the Japanese business community, and Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hori Iwao paid him a courtesy call. During his visit to Japan, President Paudel made a special address at a program organized on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. He also inspected the Nepali Embassy there.
