KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 12 Japan celebrated its National Day on Tuesday with a reception attended by Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav and senior government officials, as Ambassador Maeda Toru reaffirmed Tokyo's commitment to deepening ties with Nepal. The event, held at the Japanese Ambassador's official residence in Tahachal, marked the 66th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Around 380 guests, including government ministers, former prime ministers, ambassadors, and heads of international organizations, attended the reception. In his address, Ambassador Maeda highlighted President Ramchandra Paudel's recent visit to Japan from February 1 to 5 as a significant milestone in the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 'The recent visit of the President reaffirmed the long-standing friendship between our nations and paved the way for deeper collaboration in the years ahead,' Ambassador Maeda said. The Japanese envoy emphasized that Japan remains committed to strengthening its partnership with Nepal across multiple sectors. 'Together we look forward to deepening our friendship, expanding cooperation, and working toward shared aspirations for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development,' he said. Japan has been a major development partner for Nepal, providing assistance in infrastructure, education, health, and disaster management. The 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations has seen renewed momentum in bilateral cooperation, with both countries exploring new areas of collaboration including technology transfer, people-to-people exchanges, and economic partnerships.