Kathmandu, January 30:

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said the relations between Nepal and Japan were stronger at the people-to-people level than at the government-to-government level.

“Not only the government but even people are coming here to extend support selflessly. This is a sign of the love of Japanese people for Nepal,” he said during a programme organised to release two books on Nepal-Japan relations — Nepalka Hitaishi Japaniharoo and Sewadootharuko Dastabej.

Japanese ambassador to Nepal Sutomu Hiraoka said over the centuries Nepal and Japan had been enjoying exchanges of bilateral cooperation in different fields at different levels.

“The mountains, cultural heritage and Nepalis’ hospitality have brought thousands of Japanese to Nepal,” he said.

Former Nepali ambassador to Japan Kedar Bhakta Mathema said the relations between the two countries should not be measured only through the standard of existing diplomatic relations. They have evolved with the evolution of Buddhism in Japan, he added.