Nepal's President Holds Courtesy Meeting with Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo

Kathmandu. President Ramchandra Paudel held a courtesy meeting with Emperor Naruhito of Japan on Tuesday. The meeting between President Paudel, who is on a four-day visit to Japan, and Emperor Naruhito took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

At the invitation of the Japanese government, President Paudel, leading a Nepali delegation including the First Lady Sabita Paudel, arrived here on Monday to participate in a special ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. It was during this visit that President Paudel met with Emperor Naruhito.

During the meeting, President Paudel highly praised the cooperation and role played by Japan as a significant and reliable development partner in Nepal's social and economic development.

Quoting President Paudel's remarks during his conversation with Emperor Naruhito, his press advisor Kiran Pokharel informed that, "Japan is providing assistance to Nepal in areas such as human resources, health, agriculture, infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation; Nepal and the Nepali people have greatly benefited from this."

He also stated that both countries are inspired by the teachings and ideals of Gautama Buddha. "Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, has served as a strong bridge in harmonizing the relationship between the people of Nepal and Japan," said President Paudel.

President Paudel stated that the relationship between the two countries, long based on history, culture, and mutual cooperation, has advanced with even 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," said President Paudel.

Stating that the exchange of high-level visits has further strengthened the relationship between the two countries, President Paudel recalled Emperor Naruhito's friendly and special visit to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, and Lumbini in 1987 as a Prince. He also expressed gratitude to the Emperor and the Government of Japan for honoring him with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 2020.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Nepal, President Paudel expressed gratitude for the goodwill and cooperation from the Government of Japan and invited the Emperor and Empress to visit Nepal at their convenience.

On that occasion, Emperor Naruhito stated that the anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations should be celebrated with great enthusiasm. President Paudel's press advisor Pokharel informed that the Emperor mentioned that the memory of his Nepal visit in 1986 is still fresh for him.

Emperor Naruhito recalled the context where seeing women holding pots for drinking water during his Sarangkot trek in Pokhara inspired him to study the issue of water. He stated that Japan would assist Nepal as much as possible and recalled that both countries have been assisting each other during natural disasters.

Today, he is also scheduled to have a courtesy meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan. President Paudel is scheduled to return home on Wednesday after completing his four-day visit to Japan.