Ambassador Kikuta's Message: National Day
2024/2/23
Namaskar.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome Right Honourable Vice President Yadav as the Chief Guest and all the distinguished guests to our reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor, who is 64 years old today.
In Japan, the year 2024 began with the tragic earthquake on the Noto peninsula in Ishikawa. The planned New Year celebration at the Imperial Palace was cancelled. In response to the Right Honourable President Paudel's message of condolence from Nepal, His Majesty the Emperor has returned his appreciation.
During this time of need, it was heartwarming to see Nepalese citizens living in Japan voluntarily going to the affected area to support the people suffering there. They said it's just a way of saying thank you for the Japanese support after the Gorkha earthquake in 2015.
Today, after almost two months, the event open to the public to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor was held at the Imperial Palace, and so is in this garden. On this occasion, I should recall the massive earthquake that struck Jajarkot and Rukum West area in this country last November. On that day, trainers and trainees from a Japanese-supported UNDP project happened to be there, and they started the rescue and emergency medical treatment on the spot. I think it was the very first humanitarian operation there. The UNDP project is now moving from relief stage to early recovery.
In this way, both Nepal and Japan are natural disaster-prone countries, and Nepalese and Japanese people help each other in difficult times. It is important that we continue to work together in many areas, including the disaster prevention and damage mitigation.
A recent phenomenon in Japan is the growing number of Nepalese. Their presence is becoming essential to sustain the rapidly ageing Japanese society. For me as an ambassador, it is nice to see people-to-people exchanges being strengthened, and I wish every Nepali in Japan a happy life. However, when it comes to our cooperation with Nepal, while we see a large number of people migrating from Nepal to foreign countries, I should remind that Japan's assistance is not a charity but an investment in Nepal's future.
One such cooperation project, the construction of the Nagdhunga Tunnel, is currently scheduled to see the breakthrough of the main tunnel in early next month. This is Nepal's first road tunnel with a great significance for her future development. The challenges of digging a tunnel through the Himalayan mountain range, which has such complex strata and is still growing at the fastest rate on earth, are enormous. It is not the words or the promises that matter, but the delivery. The completion of this project, overcoming a number of difficulties, symbolizes the Japanese never-give-up spirit and the transfer of technology to future Nepalese engineers.
As discussed during the recent meeting between Nepalese Foreign Minister Mr. Saud and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Mr.Komura, the close cooperation between the two countries will continue on the basis of longstanding friendship. The year 2026 is the year of Nepal's graduation from LDC and also the year of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan. I sincerely hope that the bilateral cordial relations will be strengthened towards the momentous year, and will continue beyond, reflecting the new standpoint.
Today, I just hope you all can enjoy this reception and socialize with guests from Nepal, Japan and other diplomatic missions. There are Japanese sake, wine and traditional foods. Please enjoy the stalls set up around the garden with the support of Japanese restaurants and companies in Kathmandu. You will see Japanese cultural, or martial arts, performance later.
Thank you very much.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome Right Honourable Vice President Yadav as the Chief Guest and all the distinguished guests to our reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor, who is 64 years old today.
In Japan, the year 2024 began with the tragic earthquake on the Noto peninsula in Ishikawa. The planned New Year celebration at the Imperial Palace was cancelled. In response to the Right Honourable President Paudel's message of condolence from Nepal, His Majesty the Emperor has returned his appreciation.
During this time of need, it was heartwarming to see Nepalese citizens living in Japan voluntarily going to the affected area to support the people suffering there. They said it's just a way of saying thank you for the Japanese support after the Gorkha earthquake in 2015.
Today, after almost two months, the event open to the public to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor was held at the Imperial Palace, and so is in this garden. On this occasion, I should recall the massive earthquake that struck Jajarkot and Rukum West area in this country last November. On that day, trainers and trainees from a Japanese-supported UNDP project happened to be there, and they started the rescue and emergency medical treatment on the spot. I think it was the very first humanitarian operation there. The UNDP project is now moving from relief stage to early recovery.
In this way, both Nepal and Japan are natural disaster-prone countries, and Nepalese and Japanese people help each other in difficult times. It is important that we continue to work together in many areas, including the disaster prevention and damage mitigation.
A recent phenomenon in Japan is the growing number of Nepalese. Their presence is becoming essential to sustain the rapidly ageing Japanese society. For me as an ambassador, it is nice to see people-to-people exchanges being strengthened, and I wish every Nepali in Japan a happy life. However, when it comes to our cooperation with Nepal, while we see a large number of people migrating from Nepal to foreign countries, I should remind that Japan's assistance is not a charity but an investment in Nepal's future.
One such cooperation project, the construction of the Nagdhunga Tunnel, is currently scheduled to see the breakthrough of the main tunnel in early next month. This is Nepal's first road tunnel with a great significance for her future development. The challenges of digging a tunnel through the Himalayan mountain range, which has such complex strata and is still growing at the fastest rate on earth, are enormous. It is not the words or the promises that matter, but the delivery. The completion of this project, overcoming a number of difficulties, symbolizes the Japanese never-give-up spirit and the transfer of technology to future Nepalese engineers.
As discussed during the recent meeting between Nepalese Foreign Minister Mr. Saud and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Mr.Komura, the close cooperation between the two countries will continue on the basis of longstanding friendship. The year 2026 is the year of Nepal's graduation from LDC and also the year of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan. I sincerely hope that the bilateral cordial relations will be strengthened towards the momentous year, and will continue beyond, reflecting the new standpoint.
Today, I just hope you all can enjoy this reception and socialize with guests from Nepal, Japan and other diplomatic missions. There are Japanese sake, wine and traditional foods. Please enjoy the stalls set up around the garden with the support of Japanese restaurants and companies in Kathmandu. You will see Japanese cultural, or martial arts, performance later.
Thank you very much.