Nepal, Japan Sign New MoUs, Discuss Other Bilateral Issues

The Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his 18-member delegation arrived in Kathmandu on January 09, 2019. Following his visit, Nepal and Japan signed two MoUs after a ministerial-level discussion in Kathmandu.

The meeting was represented by Nepali Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and Japan Foreign Minister Kano

Listed below are some of the key discussions held between Nepal and Japan:

• Under the Nepal-Japan air service agreement, both countries have decided to review and re-establish direct air service between Nepal and Japan. After this, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will be able to send flights to Osaka and Narita airports in Japan

The national airlines carrier has decided to resume its operation in Japan by the end of February 2019, after nearly a decade

• The two sides also agreed to construct the secretariat-level mechanism to lay emphasis on Nepal’s economic development with Japan’s contribution in areas of agriculture, energy, infrastructure, human resource development, and tourism
• Facilitating the entry of Nepali workers employment in Japan, both sides agreed to negotiate further on the subject
• At the delegation level, Nepal has sought Japan’s aid to complete the housing project and build an earthquake museum among other reconstruction projects
• The Nepali side has asked Japan for assistance in the construction of its East-West Railway and establishing a Public Service Broadcasting setup

During Kano’s Nepal visit, he will also be meeting President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Japan Foreign Minister Meets Nepal Prime Minister

As part of the two-day visit, Japan Foreign Minister Taro Kano met Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar on January 11, 2019.

During the meeting, PM Oli thanked Japan for its continued support in Nepal’s social and economic development fields. According to PM Oli’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Rajan Bhattarai, Oli also urged Minister Kano to extend support in Nepal’s priority development areas including modernization of agriculture, energy generation, infrastructure development, and other sectors.

In return, the Japanese Minister pledged his country’s continued support to Nepal, Bhattarai added.

Kano also stressed the need for the development of regional institutions like SAARC and BIMSTEC, expressing Japan’s readiness to support such initiatives.

Bhattarai also said that the following additional areas were discussed by both countries’ representatives:

• Expansion of Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road stretch
• Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel works
• Employment opportunity for Nepali workers in Japan and several other areas of mutual cooperation

Looks like Nepal and Japan have headed for a strengthened bilateral tie-up!