August 21, 2003
Third Reunion of Former Students in Japan from
Southwest Asian Countries
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This year the Third Reunion of Former Students in Japan from Southwest Asian Countries was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo with sixteen participants from southwest Asian countries including Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh taking part in the reunion. Dr. Tara Prasad Sapkota, Mr. Rabi Shah and Ms. Manodhara Shakya participated in the program as the representatives from Nepal. Stretching over seven days from July 13 to 19, the reunion was concluded with all the participants' reaffirmation to work collectively in order to strengthen ties and develop mutual understanding among former students' associations and Japan.
The reunion included programs such as lectures, discussions, presentation of annual reports of each alumni association, intellectual exchange program, visits to museums and research institutes, to name but a few. The visits offered the chance to explore different aspects of mechanical and communication technology in contemporary Japan and their perspectives in future.
In the reunion, the representative of each alumni association gave a short presentation on activities of respective alumni associations. After that they exchanged their views on the role of former students in Japan in the development of their home countries and how to promote the activities of alumni associations in fostering relations between Japan and the region.
In the intellectual exchange program between the participants and Japanese scholars and students, Professor Pema Gyalbo gave a lecture on 'Relations between Japan and Southwest Asian Countries and their Expectations from Japan'. This was followed by remarks on "Relations between Japan and Southwest Asian Countries in the 21st Century" by representatives of each alumni association. India talked about the image of Japan in Asia and its future prospects. Sri Lanka spoke on what it should learn from Japan for its socio-economic development. Likewise, the representative from Bangladesh gave an account of the mangrove forests in their country, and the role Japan should play to conserve the forest eco-system; the representative from Pakistan also discussed the role of former students in Japan in the development of their nation.
Talking on behalf of Nepali participants, Dr. Sapkota highlighted the Prospects of Tourism in Nepal. He outlined the history of tourism, which started in 1950 when Nepal was opened to foreigners after the establishment of the multi-party democratic system. He also presented detailed facts that gave a clear picture of the flourishing tourism industry in Nepal, Japanese being the largest number to travel to Nepal since 1997, which is only exceeded by Indians; thus making the tourism sector the number one foreign exchange earner. He also stated the reasons for the diminishing tourism industry are due to recent internal disturbances and improper management of tourism sector. He emphasized that if these drawbacks were mitigated, Nepal has immense potentiality for tourism.
Having the opportunity to exchange their views and experiences on what the former Japanese university students can do for the benefit of both nations, the Nepali participants remarked that it was indeed very interesting and inspiring for all of them. They said they would work hard to form a network in South Asian countries and make concrete efforts to strengthen the ties and develop mutual understanding among former students' associations and Japan.
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