Exchange of VIP Visits
2024/5/5
Regular contact and the exchange of visits by high-ranking officials from both countries started soon after the establishment of diplomatic relations in September 1956. Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, and senior officials of different ministries of both countries exchanged visits time to time so that bilateral relations rapidly consolidated.
Prime Minister Koirala's Japan Visit
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala paid an official visit to Japan in November 1998 as the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal. During his stay in Japan, he was given an audience by His Majesty Emperor Akihito, and also had a meeting with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi discussing bilateral issues and moves to strengthen the ties between the two countries. He also met many other Japanese political leaders including former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, an avid lover of the Himalayas who has visited Nepal several times.
Mr. Yoshiro Mori, Prime Minister of Japan, reciprocated with a visit to Nepal in August 2000 as the first official visit by a Japanese Prime Minister. During his time in Nepal, His Majesty King Birendra granted him an audience. In his meeting with Prime Minister Koirala, Prime Minister Mori expressed his desire to continue Japan's active support to the development activities of Nepal.
Prime Minister Koirala welcoming Prime Minister Mori
upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu
People of Patan welcoming Prime Minister Mori
during his visit to Patan Durbar Square
Foreign Minister Gemba Visited Nepal
Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan paid a two-day visit to Nepal on April 28 and 29. This was the first time in 35 years that a Foreign Minister of Japan visited Nepal. During his visit, Mr. Gemba paid courtesy calls on President Dr. Ram
Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. He also held meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Finance Minister Mr. Barsha Man Pun and leaders of major political parties. Opinions were exchanged regarding Nepal's constitution-drafting, political issues, Japan's assistance to Nepal and economic development of Nepal.
Prime Minister Bhattarai with Foreign
Minister Gemba
Foreign Minister Gyawali Visited Japan
Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal visited Japan on a five-day official visit starting 17 November
2018. During the visit, Minister Gyawali held bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart, Minister Taro Kono, in Tokyo on 19 November. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction over the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed their commitment to further deepen and expand bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.
Foreign Minister Gyawali and Foreign Minister Kono
Foreign Minister Kono Visited Nepal
On 9th January 2019, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Nepal as a two-day official visit. During his visit, Minister Kono held a bilateral meeting with the Honorable Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign of Nepal. Minister Gyawali expressed his welcome to Minister Kono and stated that this was the second meeting in two months between the two ministers. Mr. Gyawali explained that Japan has been an important partner to Nepal, and expressed deep gratitude for Japan’s support thus far. In response, Mr. Kono stated that he was happy to visit Nepal and meet the Honorable Minister as soon after Mr. Gyawali’s visit to Japan in November last year. Mr. Kono noted that his visit to Nepal was the first time by a Japanese Foreign Minister in approximately seven years, and conveyed his intention to support the economic development of Nepal.
Foreign Minister Kono and Foreign Minister Gyawali
President Bhandari's Japan Visit
Rt. Honorable President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari visited Japan to participate in the Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne. His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito ascended to the Throne on 22nd October 2019, at the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor at the seiden, congratulated by world leaders and royal families. Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne in May and the Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne were held in October. The entire ritual is known as “Sokui no Rei” in Japanese.
On 21st October, President Bhandari held a meeting with Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan. Prime Minister Abe stated that Nepal’s sustainable development is important for peace and stability in the region as a whole. He also welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Osaka and Kathmandu this year after 12 years.
President Bhandari with Prime Minister Abe
Foreign Minister Kamikawa Visited Nepal
On 5th May 2024, Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Nepal as a official visit. During her visit, she met her Nepali counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha at the foreign ministry and held delegation-level bilateral talks. The two leaders held discussion on enhancing support and cooperation in Nepal’s major developmental priorities including agriculture, hydro-power, infrastructure development, connectivity, export promotion, industrial production, foreign investment and tourism sectors, among others. The Japanese minister also called on President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
The century old contacts and the recent exchange of visits by politicians and prominent people have further strengthened the relationships which exist between the two countries.
Prime Minister Koirala's Japan Visit
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala paid an official visit to Japan in November 1998 as the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal. During his stay in Japan, he was given an audience by His Majesty Emperor Akihito, and also had a meeting with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi discussing bilateral issues and moves to strengthen the ties between the two countries. He also met many other Japanese political leaders including former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, an avid lover of the Himalayas who has visited Nepal several times.
Prime Minister Koirala meeting with Prime Minister Obuchi (November 1998)
Prime Minister Mori's Nepal VisitMr. Yoshiro Mori, Prime Minister of Japan, reciprocated with a visit to Nepal in August 2000 as the first official visit by a Japanese Prime Minister. During his time in Nepal, His Majesty King Birendra granted him an audience. In his meeting with Prime Minister Koirala, Prime Minister Mori expressed his desire to continue Japan's active support to the development activities of Nepal.
Prime Minister Koirala welcoming Prime Minister Mori
upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu
People of Patan welcoming Prime Minister Mori
during his visit to Patan Durbar Square
Foreign Minister Gemba Visited Nepal
Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan paid a two-day visit to Nepal on April 28 and 29. This was the first time in 35 years that a Foreign Minister of Japan visited Nepal. During his visit, Mr. Gemba paid courtesy calls on President Dr. Ram
Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. He also held meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Finance Minister Mr. Barsha Man Pun and leaders of major political parties. Opinions were exchanged regarding Nepal's constitution-drafting, political issues, Japan's assistance to Nepal and economic development of Nepal.
Prime Minister Bhattarai with Foreign
Minister Gemba
Foreign Minister Gyawali Visited Japan
Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal visited Japan on a five-day official visit starting 17 November
2018. During the visit, Minister Gyawali held bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart, Minister Taro Kono, in Tokyo on 19 November. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction over the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed their commitment to further deepen and expand bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.
Foreign Minister Gyawali and Foreign Minister Kono
Foreign Minister Kono Visited Nepal
On 9th January 2019, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Nepal as a two-day official visit. During his visit, Minister Kono held a bilateral meeting with the Honorable Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign of Nepal. Minister Gyawali expressed his welcome to Minister Kono and stated that this was the second meeting in two months between the two ministers. Mr. Gyawali explained that Japan has been an important partner to Nepal, and expressed deep gratitude for Japan’s support thus far. In response, Mr. Kono stated that he was happy to visit Nepal and meet the Honorable Minister as soon after Mr. Gyawali’s visit to Japan in November last year. Mr. Kono noted that his visit to Nepal was the first time by a Japanese Foreign Minister in approximately seven years, and conveyed his intention to support the economic development of Nepal.
Foreign Minister Kono and Foreign Minister Gyawali
President Bhandari's Japan Visit
Rt. Honorable President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari visited Japan to participate in the Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne. His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito ascended to the Throne on 22nd October 2019, at the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor at the seiden, congratulated by world leaders and royal families. Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne in May and the Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne were held in October. The entire ritual is known as “Sokui no Rei” in Japanese.
On 21st October, President Bhandari held a meeting with Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan. Prime Minister Abe stated that Nepal’s sustainable development is important for peace and stability in the region as a whole. He also welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Osaka and Kathmandu this year after 12 years.
President Bhandari with Prime Minister Abe
Foreign Minister Kamikawa Visited Nepal
On 5th May 2024, Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Nepal as a official visit. During her visit, she met her Nepali counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha at the foreign ministry and held delegation-level bilateral talks. The two leaders held discussion on enhancing support and cooperation in Nepal’s major developmental priorities including agriculture, hydro-power, infrastructure development, connectivity, export promotion, industrial production, foreign investment and tourism sectors, among others. The Japanese minister also called on President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Foreign Minister Shrestha
The century old contacts and the recent exchange of visits by politicians and prominent people have further strengthened the relationships which exist between the two countries.