KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 15
Japanese Ambassador Kikuta handed Ramchandra Paudel, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 2020 Spring Imperial Decoration, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
Paudel received the decoration on 29 April 2020 in recognition of his contributions to strengthening the relationship between Japan and Nepal and promoting the interchange of members of parliaments of both countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony had been postponed.
But it was successfully concluded today.
According to the Embassyof Japan, Poudel contributed to the activation of contacts between parliamentarians of the two countries. He established the Japan-Nepal Friendship Parliamentarian League in 1999 when he was speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal. He was the first chairman of the League from the beginning until 2017. He was also actively involved in the promotion of bilateral relations. He received many VIPs from Japan such as His Imperial Highness Prince Akihito and Her Imperial Highness Princess Michiko, Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Kiuchi Minoru, among others. Furthermore, he participated in the 40-year, 50-year and 60-year anniversaries of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and delivered congratulatory statements.
Japanese decorations are conferred upon foreigners twice a year - on April 29 and November 3 - concurrently with the conferment of decorations and medals to Japanese nationals.
The Order of the Rising Sun is bestowed upon individuals of merit, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the nation or public. It is also conferred upon foreign nationals who have made notable contributions for promotion of relations between Japan and other countries in diverse range of areas.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 16, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
