KATHMANDU: Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun attended a reception on Friday organised here by Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Masashi Ogawa, on the occasion of the 82nd auspicious birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Akihito.

On the occasion, Vice-President Pun wished for the good health and longevity of the Japanese Emperor on behalf of Nepal and Nepali people.

Nepal and Japan are good friends, which have passed through the six decades of diplomatic ties, he said, extending thanks to the Japanese government for the cooperation being provided for economic and social development endeavours of Nepal.

At the programme, Japanese Ambassador Ogawa made it clear that the aid Japan has been providing to Nepal as a good friends would continue in future, while noting that Japan wishes to see a peaceful and prosperous Nepal through the implementation of new Constitution.

The Japanese Ambassador also stated that his government’s serious attention has been drawn over the problems facing Nepali nationals in various areas including the fuel crisis in the aftermath of the promulgation of the Constitution.

The function was attended by a former prime minister, ministers, lawmakers, former ministers, high-placed government officials, chiefs and representatives of foreign missions in Nepal and Japanese nationals in Nepal.