Sixty Years of Nepal-Japan Relation

Sixty Years of Nepal-Japan Relation and

Formation of JAAFSC

                                                           Buddhi Narayan Shrestha

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.