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Japanese Prime Minister Mori’s Nepal Visit
Short But Fruitful

By Jagadish B. Mathema

ALTHOUGH Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori’s official visit to Nepal was short (a duration of 10 hrs), this historical visit of the Japanese Prime Minister can be considered as fruitful as well as meaningful. This visit can be termed as a milestone to strengthen the friendly and cordial relations that has sustained over the decades between the two countries, the hand of Mount Everest and the hand of the Rising Sun.

Major Issues

Among the major issues that have been discussed between the two Prime Ministers of Nepal and Japan are expansion of the United Nations Security Council in both permanent as well as non-permanent categories; Nepal’s support for Japan’s candidature in the Security Council, signing up Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), solving Bhutanese Refugee issue, security and safety of Japanese volunteers working in various projects in disturbed areas; energizing SAARC and setting up a Japan-SAARC special fund; disbursement of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to the developing world; IT training in Japan under "Mori Fellowship; 5,000 youths to be invited under educational and cultural exchange programme, economic assistance for Nepal, river management (flood control and reclamation of land for agricultural purposes, etc).

As, we already have stepped into a new millennium, the world scenario has drastically changed. In view of the changed context, the United Nations Security Council is in need of expansion in both permanent as well as non-permanent categories. At present, there are five permanent and ten non-permanent members which are elected for a term of two years. This issue is likely to be raised in the Millennium Summit scheduled to be held at New York from September 6-8. Japan is likely to announce its candidature in the permanent catagory of the Security Council. It should be noted here that the expansion of Security Council to include "new powers" such as Japan, India and Germany has been suggested by various quarters.

During the official visits of Pakistan and India, Prime Minister Mori has already requested General Pervez Musharaf, Chief Executive of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee to sign CTBT. Although, Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee has said "India is most mindful and sensitive to the sentiments," Japan has suffered from the weapons of mass distruction as it is the only country in the world to have suffered from them. However, New Delhi is saying that it is trying to evolve a political consensus on the issue. When India as well as Pakistan tested nuclear devices 1998, Japan had imposed economic sanctions on both the countries. Prime Minister Mori has indicated to lift a freeze on developmental assistance and fresh yen loans to India and Pakistan following their tit-for-tat nuclear tests in 1998. As for Nepal, she has already signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), according to the Foreign Secretary, Narayan Shumsher Thapa.

Prime Minister Koirala has requested Japan’s cooperation in solving the Bhutanese refugees issue, which has become a major problem for Nepal, since India has so far insisted Nepal to solve it bilaterally. Premier Mori has informed Prime Minister Koirala that he had discussed the Bhutanese refugee problem with Sadako Ogata, UN High Commissioner for Refguees. Japan has pledged 1.3 million dollars for the refugees and additional one million dollars for food under World Food Programme.

Due to Maoist insurgency problem in various Maoist affected areas, concern for the safety and security of approximately 300 Japanese volunteers has come up. Prime Minister Koirala has assured that adequate measures will be taken for their safety and security.

Japan is regarded as an Asian economic superpower. Therefore, it is only befitting that Japan should be occupying the number one position in disbursement of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to the developed at a time when other countries of the developed world are tightening their purse strings. Nepal has benefited substantially from Japanese ODA not only in financial terms, but also from Japanese involvement in the socio-economic development sphere of the nation.

Prime Minister Mori’s current visit has highlighted IT sector, as it was announced that 50 Nepali youth would be provided IT training in Japan under "Mori Fellowship." Besides, 5,000 youths would also be invited under educational and cultural exchange programme from South Asian region.

The immediate major benefit Nepal received from this visit of Premier Mori was that grant of 1.14 billion rupees, which Japan will provide to Nepal for use in various developmental areas. This money will be spent for construction of primary schools under Basic and Primary Education programme and as debt relief measures. Besides, Japan has also announced grant amount of 300 thousand dollars for the relief of flood victims. In addition to that, Japan has also promised to help Nepal in its river management (flood control and declamation of land for agricultural purposes) construction of bridges in rural areas and construction of an alternative road between Kathmandu and Terai region.

The one week long visit of Japanese Prime Minister Mori can be concluded as a successful and fruitful visit to South Asian region and is expected by all to have far reaching beneficial impacts in the years to come.

During Mori’s visit to India, Mori said that Japan and India have become global partners. This new partnerrship will be working for peace, development and cooperation. As a result, the bilateral relations would acquire a new demension and depth.

Prime Minister Mori had focussed his discussion on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, its dispute with India over Kashmir and economic sanction and combating international terrorism.

In Bangladesh, Premier Mori singed agreements on cooperation on four projects. Japan is Bangladesh’s most important development partner having already donated 971 billion yen in loans and grants since independence in 1971.

Fruitful Visit

Although, Premier Mori’s Nepal visit was short, it can be concluded as fruitful as well as meaningful in that the visit has boosted the already warm and friendly relations subsisting between Nepal and Japan since the time the first Japanese Buddhist monk Ekai Kawaguchi, visited Nepal more than a century ago.

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