Sixty Years of Nepal-Japan Relation
and
Formation of JAAFSC
Nepal-Japan diplomatic relation
was established in 1956. It is to be noted that people to people contact as
friendship was started when Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese Buddhist monk visited
Nepal in 1899; and a group of eight Nepali students went to Japan in 1902 for
higher studies. Now the relation is becoming closer and strengthened year after
year not only in the government level, but also in the level of general people.
Both countries are keen to further develop the friendly relations for mutual
respect as well as peace and prosperity. In the year 2016, Nepal and Japan
celebrated 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between
two countries.
From the establishment of
Nepal-Japan diplomatic relation to this date, many organizations and
institutions have been established in Nepal and also in Japan. JICA Alumni
Association of Nepal (JAAN ) is one of them, as it was established in 1973 with
an objective to get in touch with the Japanese institutions in order to keep
students and trainees inform about the modern development that are taking place
in the areas of technology transfer, being involved in the concerned field upon
their return from Japan. And JICA Alumni Associations Forum of SAARC Countries
(JAAFSC) was formed in 2008 as a common platform of the region with a view to
develop and extend relationship to foster mutual understanding, cooperation and
strengthening friendship among the ex-participants of JICA sponsored program of
the SAARC countries.
Diplomatic
Relations
Nepal and Japan
established diplomatic relations on 1 September 1956. Notes agreeing to
establish diplomatic relation between two countries at Ambassadorial level were
exchanged on September 1, 1956 in New Delhi between Mr. Bharat Raj Rajbhandari,
Charge d' Affairs a.i. of Nepal to India and H. E. Seijiro Yoshizawa,
Ambassador of Japan to India. Since then formal diplomatic relations between
Nepal and Japan have always been co-operative and friendly. Mr. Hidemichi Kira
was the first Japanese residential Ambassador to Nepal and Mr. Bharat Raj
Rajbhandari was the first Nepalese residential Ambassador to Japan.
Nepal-Japan
relations have been developing in a smooth manner based on true friendship,
deep mutual respect and thoughtful understanding. People of both countries
harbor a strong sense of belongingness and respect for each other. Japan, with
its painful background, knows well the traumas of being poor. Now, Japan has
become a highly developed and rich country. But she has not forgotten her past
days. Japan, therefore, valuing the role of peace, stability and economic
development, is extending a helping hand, to the developing countries like
Nepal. Many countries have benefited through the economic and technical
cooperation from Japan.
Nepal and Japan
are geographically distant but close in terms of culture, way of life and share
similar sentiments. Both the countries are showered with nature, mountains and
are multi-cultural and admitted to as world heritage. Asian values are deeply
rooted in the society and people in both the countries. The common unique nature of Japanese and
Nepalese is the strong sense of patriotism and love for their own history,
culture and identity.
Exchange of Visits
In 1960, late
King Mahendra's visited to Japan and Emperor Akihito's (then Crown Prince)
visited Nepal that laid a strong foundation to develop friendly relations
between the two countries. Late King
Birendra's visit to Japan in 1978 and 1983, Prince Akihito's second visit in
1975 and Prince Akishano's in 1997 further cemented the close relationship. The
visits of Japanese Premiers Ryotaro Hashimoto (1999 and 2002), Yoshihiro Mori
(2000) demonstrate the importance given by Japan in developing relation with
Nepal. Similarly, the visits of Nepali Premiers Sher Bahadur Deuba, GP Koirala
(1998) and several Foreign and Finance Ministers have contributed in further
strengthening our relationship. There has been a flurry of high level visits
exchanged between the two countries in the past. Such visits and exchange of
ideas and cooperation have further boldened our bilateral relations.
In 2016,
two
Former Prime Ministers Jhal Nath
Khanal and Baburam Bhattarai visited Japan. State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. Nobuo Kishi visited
Nepal. In 2015, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Minoru Kiuchi visited
Nepal. Reciprocally, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur
Pandey, Minister for Finance Ram Sharan Mahat, DPM and Energy Minister Top
Bahadur Rayamajhi, Foreign Secretary Shankar Bairagi visited Japan.
Economic
Cooperation
Japan started
giving economic cooperation to Nepal since 1969. Japanese official development
aid consists of mainly 3 components : Grant, Loan and Technical cooperation.
Within half a century, a colossal amount totaling more than 3.42 billion
dollars have been given to Nepal by Japan under these three headings. Similarly,
more than 2,000 Japanese volunteers have been dispatched to Nepal and more than
5000 Nepalese officials have been trained in Japan in different disciplines.
Japan has emerged as one of the largest donor country to Nepal in recent years.
Hallmark of the assistance is that her
economic cooperation has always remained strings unattached.
Nepal-Japan
relation based on mutual trust and cooperation is very cordial. Japan
government is ahead for its continuous support to Nepal's social and economic
development endevours. Japan, which is Nepal's reliable and the major
donor partner, has achieved tremendous development in science and technology
and has an impressive record in economic development sector in Nepal. Japan's assistance to infrastructure development,
modernization of agro sector, human resource development, air safety, school
reform sector and other socio-economic development programs in Nepal are always commendable.
Nepal-Japan
relations operate at 3 levels- political, government and people-to-people.
Japan is a true development partner and one of the major donors for Nepal. True development partner: because there is no
string attached and hidden political agenda in Japan's contributions to Nepal
unlike some other friendly countries. Japan has been providing financial
assistance to Nepal through various channels, as soft loans and grants.
The big assistance
is the Tunnel road project. Construction project of
Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road is one of the latest examples of Nepal-Japan
cooperation.
Finance Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi and Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masashi
Ogawa signed and exchanged a set of Exchange of Notes on behalf of their
respective governments at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on December 23, 2016 for
extending the loan of 22,14
million Japanese Yen, interest rate of 0.01 percent with a repayment period of
40 years and an additional 10 years of grace period.
