Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Kikuta Yutaka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today, at the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
During the meeting, Ambassador Kikuta congratulated Prime Minister Deuba for his appointment and the successful vote of confidence at the Parliament. The ambassador handed the congratulatory letter from Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan to PM Deuba on the occasion. Prime Minister Deuba expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Suga for his wishes.
Prime Minister Deuba and Ambassador Kikuta shared their views on bilateral relations between the two countries as the year 2022 commemorates the 120th anniversary of student-exchanges, and also on the post-COVID social and economic development of Nepal. The ambassador mentioned that Japan has been working with Nepal as a friendly development partner to improve the daily lives of Nepali people, which will also be beneficial for the public health of the country in this COVID-19 situation.
The recent donation of about 1.6 million AstraZeneca vaccines for Nepal through the COVAX facility is a reflection of long-time friendship of Nepal towards Japan, followed by the medical equipment assistance for the Nepali hospitals to fight against the pandemic together. Prime Minister Deuba expressed his appreciation for Japan’s cooperation including the vaccine donation.
Ambassador Kikuta highlighted the special intimacy between Japan and Nepal based on the long-term relationship and hoped to continue the partnership for more years to come by resuming the people-to-people exchange of the two countries once the COVID-19 situation eases.
