President Ram Chandra Poudel has said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan, relations have been moving forward with greater closeness and deeper friendship, and he wants to work together with the Japanese leadership to strengthen this relationship and cooperation.

President Poudel expressed this view during a courtesy call on President Poudel, who is on an official visit to Japan, by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanaya here on Tuesday. 

'We are grateful for the Japanese government's continuous support, goodwill and understanding towards us. We want to work together with the Japanese leadership in the coming days to further strengthen the friendly relations and mutual cooperation between the two countries,' President Poudel's press advisor Kiran Pokharel said, quoting him during the meeting. 

Stating that the 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations is a milestone in the bilateral relations established between them, he said that such high-level visits would further strengthen the relations. 

Stating that Japan is an important development partner in Nepal's social and economic development, he said that there is a great potential to attract Japanese investment in Nepal's development priority areas, as well as expanding bilateral trade. 'For this, legal, procedural and institutional reforms have been made in Nepal to facilitate trade, attract foreign investment and promote innovation,' President Poudel said.

He said that Japan's bilateral grants, loans, multilateral assistance and technical assistance have made a significant contribution to human resource development, health, agricultural development, infrastructure development, environmental protection and cultural preservation in Nepal.

'As Nepal is upgraded from the category of least developed countries, I am confident that Nepal will continue to receive cooperation and goodwill from Japan, as always,' President Poudel said.

He said that Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, has served as a strong bridge between the people of both countries, who believe in the Buddha's philosophy of world peace, stability and brotherhood. He expressed his best wishes for the complete success of the general elections to be held soon in Japan.

On the occasion, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanaya expressed Japan's wish for the upcoming February 21 election for the House of Representatives in Nepal to be successful, as Nepal's stability is important for Japan and the region, Pokharel informed. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanaya also said that Japan will send observers to the elections.

She said that Nepal and Japan have been close friends for a long time, and that the relations between the two countries are deepening due to the contacts of Nepali students studying in Japan and the climbing of Nepal's mountains by Japanese citizens.

Prime Minister Sanaya also said that Japan will continue to support Nepal in the field of information technology and democracy on the occasion of the Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations, saying that the two countries should further deepen them.

President Poudel arrived in Japan on Monday at the invitation of the Japanese government, leading a Nepali delegation including First Lady Sabita Poudel. Earlier, on Monday, he addressed a program with members of the Japanese business community, while Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hori Iwao paid a courtesy call on him.