Kathmandu, Aug. 23 (RSS):   Foreign Secretary Narayan Shumsher Thapa has said that His Majesty’s Government is looking forward to the first official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to Nepal on August 25.

Speaking to RSS, Mr Thapa said Nepal and Japan enjoy excellent relations at the official level which is further reinforced by strong interactions at the public level.

Japan has consistently supported Nepal in her development efforts with financial grants, technical cooperation and through human resources development, Mr Thapa said, adding the Kulekhani project, the T.U. Teaching Hospital, Udaypur Cement Project are some of the landmark projects completed with the assistance of the Japanese government.

Japan has also been invloved in Sindhuli-Bardibas road, community forestry, rural telecommunications, primary health care, basic and primary education, the foreign secretary said, adding that Japan has been the largest donor to Nepal for the last several years.

Mr Thapa said both Nepal and Japan share their views on many international issues more specifically on promoting global peace and prosperity.

Stating that these official relations have been further reinforced by the strong bonds of friendship and goodwill between the Nepalese and the Japanese people, Mr Thapa said that Nepal has also been an attractive destination to many Japanese people for sightseeing and mountaineering.

The visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to South Asia within months of his taking over the office of the Prime Minister clearly indicates the importance Japan attaches to this region, the foreign secretary said.

The foreign secretary said “we hope that the visit will provide us with an opportunity to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations between our two countries and further strengthen them to our mutual satisfaction.”

Widening the scope of bilateral interactions in the days ahead for enhancing trade with Japan and attracting Japanese investment in Nepal will also figure during the discussion, he added.

The foreign secretary said “this will also be an occasion to share views at the highest political level on the current regional and international issues.”