 |
Kathmandu,Friday January 28, 2000 Magh 14th, 2056.
|
On
Nepal-Japan ties
It
is indeed a matter of pride that Nepal enjoys good relations with most
countries of the world but the importance it attaches to relations
with Japan cannot be overemphasized. This is because Japan, as the
most advanced country of Asia, has not only been the largest
contributor to Nepal’s development efforts but there is also a sense
of deep rooted cultural affinity in the hearts of Nepalese people. In
fact, there are so many things in common between the Land of the
Rising Sun and the Land of the Mount Everest, in areas ranging from
socio-cultural and religious aspects to political realities.
Needless
to say, Japan has obliged us in many ways. Being the largest
international donor to support our development efforts, its
contribution for the general progress of Nepal is something that can
be hardly forgotten by any Nepalese. In this connection, the recent
visit to this country by the president of the Japanese international
cooperation agency (JICA), Mr Kimio Fujita, has only helped to further
enhance the already cordial relations so happily subsisting between
the two countries.
Mr
Fujita’s remark prior to his return that Japan would lay emphasis on
infrastructure development and social sector growth, naturally, could
not have been more appropriate, as it is these two sectors whose poor
state is the main cause of Nepal’s backwardness. What is however
noteworthy is that despite JICA president’s observation,
expressing satisfaction over Nepal’s aid utilization, the concerned
agencies in Nepal must be able to show a high degree of prudence to
ensure that aid is really used properly. This is because allegations
or complaints pertaining to misuse of funds donated by friendly
countries cannot be altogether dismissed as baseless — be the fund
from Japan or other countries.
Clearly,
Fujita’s visit, which was meant to review Japanese-assisted projects
and explore new avenues for cooperation, is believed to have been
productive. It is hoped that new projects will come up in the future
as a result of his visit. Through the years, Japan has no doubt proved
itself a country that is very serious about the quality aspect in its
performance —be it in industrial or social sector. As such, Nepal
could learn a great deal from it. In fact, Japan could be of much help
to us not with direct financial assistance in various sectors such as
water resources, road construction and other development activities.
But it could also support us by indirect processes such as exchange of
expertise and technical know-how. What would be even more welcome is
the flow of Japanese investment into Nepal, as this would not only
ensure greater pace in the liberalisation process of the Nepali
economy but also enhance entrepreneurship among the Nepalese business
community.
Other Stories
|
