Nepal, Japan congratulate each other on 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Kathmandu / Aug 31: The visiting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Nobuo Kishi, paid a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday afternoon. Similarly, he called on the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at his Office Singh Durbar earlier in the morning.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan had arrived in Nepal yesterday, leading a delegation to attend the commemorative programme organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan.

The Prime Minister handed over his congratulatory message addressed to the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, on this happy occasion and State Minister Kishi also handed over the message of the Prime Minister of Japan to PM Dahal, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

In his message, PM Dahal congratulated the Government and People of Japan. Referring to the ever growing friendship and cooperation between Nepal and Japan, PM Dahal expressed government’s desire to further deepen and widen bilateral relations by cultivating wider economic engagements in the areas of trade, tourism, investment etc.

Meanwhile, the Japanese PM Abe expressed his happiness on the excellent state of cordial relationship between Nepal and Japan in the past six decades. Reiterating the support of the Japanese Government in the development of economic infrastructures and reconstruction of Nepal after the earthquake disaster, the Japanese PM also conveyed the his government’s desire to work together with Nepal government to expand and step up cooperation in the field of socio-economic development, as well as in trade and investment between the two countries.

Earlier in the morning, State Minister Kishi called on Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, at his Office, Singhadurbar. During the meeting matters of bilateral cooperation and mutual interests were reviewed. The two sides also shared views on how these relations could be taken forward by seizing the opportunities available in both countries. Foreign Minister Dr. Mahat appreciated the unconditional support of the Government of Japan to the socio-economic development of Nepal.

State Minister Kishi handed over the message of congratulation from Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Fumio Kishida, addressed to Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat on his appointment as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Extending his best wishes to Minister Dr. Mahat, Foreign Minister Kishida has expressed his willingness to work together to further develop cordial relations between Nepal and Japan.

Moreover, State Minister Kishi, in the morning, attended the signing ceremony of the Exchange of Notes of the Grant Aid under Japan Overseas Development Assistance for two new projects- Improvement of Aviation Safety Facilities in Major Airports of Nepal and School Sector Development Program to the sum of approximately 15 million dollars and 3 million dollars respectively at the Ministry of Finance.

The Notes were signed and exchanged by Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Lok Darshan Regmi, and Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Masashi Ogawa. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, and the visiting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Nobuo Kishi.

The commemorative event is scheduled to be held tomorrow at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Kathmandu, at the gracious presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. RSS