Japan-Nepal Foreign Ministers' Meeting

January 31, 2012
Japanese

(Photo)Japan-Nepal Foreign Ministers' Meeting-2

On Tuesday, January 31, Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with Hon. Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, who is visiting Japan. An overview of the meeting is as follows.

In his opening remarks, Foreign Minister Gemba welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha's visit to Japan, congratulated him on his successful surgery at Hokkaido University, and expressed his hope for a rapid recovery. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha stated that while this was a private visit to receive medical treatment, he wished to use the occasion to express his gratitude to Professor Abumi of Hokkaido University Hospital, who performed an operation for him, the other medical professionals and the Japanese Government for their hospitality.
Foreign Minister Gemba reiterated Japan's gratitude for blankets and other assistance from Nepal following the Great East Japan Earthquake, and stated that in order to strengthen Japan’s bonds with Asia-Pacific countries, the Japanese Government had decided to launch the "Kizuna (Bond) Project," which will invite to Japan youth from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries, and that approximately 55 young people from Nepal would be invited over around one year. He also stated that as ten months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the domestic supply chain had been completely restored.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha expressed his heartfelt sympathy for those who suffered from the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as his hope that Japan, as it steadily proceeded with reconstruction, would overcome these enormous hardships and recover as swiftly as possible.
Foreign Minister Gemba stated that Japan attached importance to the early completion of the peace process and the consolidation of democracy in Nepal and had provided support such as the dispatch of personnel to the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), and that Japan wished to continue to provide support. Also, with regard to the peace process, he welcomed the November 2011 agreement between the main political parties on the integration of the Maoist ex-combatants and the constitution drafting, and expressed his hope that the reintegration of the Maoist ex-combatants and the constitution drafting would be completed on schedule under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha stated that Nepal was at a historical juncture under the on-going peace process and the constitution drafting, and expressed his gratitude for Japan’s serious interest. He stated that Japanese engagement had always been positive in accelerating the processes and particularly thanked Japan’s role. He further stated that although there had been a tendency toward delay in the processes, the Nepalese people had increasingly become enthusiastic about the constitution drafting. He expressed his hope that the peace process would be completed within a few months as there had also been gradual progress on the technical aspects of the integration of the Maoist ex-combatants.
Foreign Minister Gemba noted that Japan had been providing assistance in infrastructure development, education and other areas in order to reduce poverty and support economic development in Nepal. He stated that he wished to consider possible assistance to further promote stability and development in Nepal, taking into consideration progress in the peace process, while referring to a scheduled visit to Japan in February, 2012 by Mr. Radhesh Pant, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Investment Board.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha stated that Japan and Nepal enjoyed an extraordinary and unique friendship and that he could not find any words to express the sense of gratitude they felt for the continued assistance from Japan in wide-ranging areas including human resource development, hydroelectric generation, health, education and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers/Senior Volunteers. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha further stated that, as Nepal faced this historical juncture, peace and development were interrelated, and expressed his hope for continued assistance from Japan in order to further advance economic growth.
Foreign Minister Gemba stated that Japan was implementing a project through UNESCO for the protection of the World Heritage Site of Lumbini, and wished to cooperate through possible forms of assistance. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha responded that Nepal wished to proceed with the development of Lumbini with assistance from the international community, based on the development master plan drawn up by Japanese architect Mr. Kenzo Tange, and would like to seek Japan’s cooperation.
Foreign Minister Gemba stated that, with regard to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Japan wished to explore ways to further strengthen the relationship between Japan and SAARC in cooperation with Nepal as the next SAARC chair. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha stated in response that he welcomed Japan's interest in SAARC and that he looked forward to cooperation in the future.

(*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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