Remarks by Ambassador Tsutomu Hiraoka
2021/3/22
Remarks by H.E. Mr. Tsutomu Hiraoka Ambassador of Japan at the Launching of Golden Jubilee Celebration of the
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Nepal
February 24, 2006
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Nepal
February 24, 2006
The Hon'ble Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey,
The Hon'ble Minister without Portfolio Mr. Buddhi Raj Bajracharya,
The Hon'ble Minister of State for Finance Dr. Roop Jyoti,
Members of the High Level Committee,
Members of the Coordinating Council,
Distinguished Guests from Japan-Nepal Related Organizations,
Media, Business & Tourism Industry,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ambassador delivering a speech
You might be aware that His Majesty's Government of Nepal has recently formed a high Level Committee on the Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Nepal under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey. Likewise, at the Embassy of Japan, a committee was formed a year before to prepare for this years Golden Jubilee. At the nation's level, "Coordinating Council for Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nepal-Japan Diplomatic Relations" and "Cooperation Committee for 50th Anniversary of Japan-Nepal Diplomatic Relations" were formed in respective countries. Japanese Community in Nepal is also keen to celebrate the occasion. You could see all logo marks of each organizations in the pamphlet we distributed today which will be explained at later stage. All these interests shows the great importance the both our two countries attach to the 50th anniversary celebration.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On September 1, 1956 Notes agreeing to establish diplomatic relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Nepal at Ambassadorial level were exchanged in New Delhi between H.E. Mr. Seijiro Yoshizawa, Amhassador of Japan to India and Mr. Bharat Raj Rajbhandari, Charge d'Affairs a.i. of Nepal to India. Respective Ambassadors in New Delhi were accredited to each other's country as Ambassadors, pending the appointment of separate resident Ambassadors.
Later, Royal Nepalese Embassy was established in Tokyo in 1965. Similarly, Japanese Embassy was established in Kathmandu in February 1968 and H.E. Mr. Hidemichi Kira assumed his office as the first residential Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Nepal.
However, I must point out that the history of our friendly and cordial relations stretches back over a century. Since long before the establishment of diplomatic relations, in 1899, Rev. Ekai Kawaguchi, the first recorded Japanese visitor to Nepal, entered this Himalayan Kingdom on his way to Tibet in search of holy Buddhist scriptures. At that time, Rev. Kawaguchi wrote a long letter to Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher Rana which is still preserved in the Madan Pustakalaya, Lalitpur.
In the letter, he propounded the unity of Asia and Pan-Asianism and described Nepal as the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, who spread the precious teaching of "Enlightenment and Moderation." Rev. Ekai Kawaguchi who was accorded great hospitality by Nepal, believed that Nepal deserved the opportunity to benefit from Japanese science and technology, and offered several suggestions for the development of the country, in the areas of education, political and financial administration, industrial development and the building of socio-economic infrastructure. Rev. Kawaguchi was thus the first Japanese to consider the possibility of extending Japanese cooperation in the development of Nepal.
In 1902, the Government of Nepal sent eight promising young students to Japan to study various courses in Engineering and Technology. They returned to Nepal in 1905 and rendered useful and important services in the development of Nepal.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Relations between Japan and Nepal have always remained cordial and friendly and are becoming closer year after year as the government and the people of both countries are keen to further develop this relations for mutual benefits as well as for peace and prosperity in the region. Both of our countries enjoy constitutional monarchy, democracy and market economy. Our bilateral relationship has been further deepened by the exchanges of visits between the Imperial and Royal Families and by high level government officials. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress still fondly remember their visits to Nepal in 1960 and 1975. His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince Naruhito paid a visit to Nepal in 1987 and His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino in 1997. Even last year His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev together with Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah accompanied by the Hon'ble Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Pandey visited Japan on the occasion of Aichi World Exposition.
HE Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala paid an official working visit to Japan in 1998 as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Similarly, in 2000, HE Mr. Yoshiro Mori visited this beautiful country as the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit Nepal. I would also like to mention HE Ryutaro Hashimoto, the former Prime Minister has visited Nepal many times. Also HE Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Prime Minister and Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, former Deputy Prime Minister have also visited Japan on the invitation of the Government of Japan.
Japan, being a close friend and reliable development partner, has been continuously extending economic and technical cooperation for the upliftment of socio-economic development of Nepal covering the field of health, education, energy, transport, drinking water, environmental conservation etc.
Japan's economic assistance to Nepal began with the acceptance of several Nepali trainees under the Colombo Plan in 1954. Since then, it has continuously expanded. Until Japan's Fiscal Year 2004, the Government of Japan has provided a total assistance of 281.002 billion yen to Nepal which consists of grants 165.615 billion yen, technical cooperation 51.498 billion yen and loans 63.889 billion yen.
In recent years, a large number of Nepalese students have been receiving opportunities of higher education in Japan under government and non-government scholarship programs. Many youths, students and scholars also have been visiting Japan through various academic exchange programs. At the same time, over the years, the Embassy has been constantly organizing various cultural programs in Kathmandu to introduce Japanese culture to the Nepalese people.
To celebrate 50th anniversary, various programs are being prepared throughout the year with recognition that 50 years of friendship is indeed an epoch-making achievement and with determination to build a new avenue of friendship for another 50 years and beyond. The Golden Jubilee Celebration programs being organized will include exhibitions, Concerts, Opera Evening and other performances of which some are listed in the pamphlet that have been distributed today.
Nearest of such events are the Seminar on Japan-Nepal Relations organized by the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) on February 27 and the Exhibition of Japanese Contemporary Clay Work at Nepal Art Council Gallery, Babarmahal hosted by the Embassy of Japan from March 22 to April 2. I hope that the Seminar will highlight relations between our two countries and that the Clay Work Exhibition will be very enjoyable cultural event being held in Kathmandu to commemorate the Golden Jubilee.
I wish the friendship and cooperation that so happily existing between our two countries will grow further in the many many years to come. I look forward to work with all of you to make the Golden Jubilee celebrations a grand success.
Thank you.