KATHMANDU: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has offered congratulations to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on her re-assumption of office as the head-of-nation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

In his message, Prime Minister Abe said that he looks forward to actively cooperating with President Bhandari to further strengthen the long-standing friendly relation between Japan and Nepal.

He also said that Japan welcomes the solid progress Nepal is making in strengthening democracy following the elections to the Federal Parliament and Provincial Assemblies under the new constitution.

He assured that Japan would continue to strongly support Nepal's efforts to consolidate democracy and to "build back better" from the disastrous outcomes of the earthquake.