Nepali students form Japan's second-largest international academic community: Foreign Minister

Nepal and Japan are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations, with education, technology, innovation and growing people-to-people connections continuing to strengthen their bilateral partnership, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said.

Addressing the inaugural session of the South Asia Federation of Japanese University Alumni Associations (SAFJUAA) Symposium 2026, Khanal highlighted the role of educational exchanges in building long-term relationships between the two countries.

He said connections established through education can become some of the strongest and most enduring bonds between nations.

Although formal diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan began in 1956, their friendship dates back much further, the Foreign Minister noted.

Nepal-Japan friendship dates back to the late 19th century

Recalling the historical connections between the two countries, Khanal referred to the visit of Japanese Buddhist monk Ekai Kawaguchi to Nepal in 1899. Kawaguchi traveled to the country in search of Buddhist texts.

He also recalled that eight Nepali students traveled to Japan for higher education in the early 1900s. These initial exchanges helped establish people-to-people connections between the two countries.

According to the Foreign Minister, these early interactions eventually developed into formal diplomatic relations in 1956. The relationship has continued to expand through educational, cultural and economic cooperation.

Japan remains a key development partner for Nepal

Khanal said Japan's economic transformation and technological advancement have served as an inspiration for Nepal's own development journey.

He described Japan as a reliable development partner over the past seven decades and acknowledged its continued assistance across several important sectors.

These include infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, disaster resilience and human resource development. He also highlighted Japan's contributions to strengthening Nepal's institutional and development capabilities.

The Foreign Minister said Japan's assistance during disasters, along with its cooperation in forensic expertise and DNA identification, reflects the strong friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

He also expressed gratitude to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for conveying condolences and solidarity to Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah during a telephone conversation.

The communication came after recent floods in Nepal caused loss of life and property. Khanal acknowledged Japan's support and the gesture of solidarity extended to the country during the difficult period.

More than 300,000 Nepalis live in Japan

Highlighting the growing connections between the two countries, Khanal said more than 300,000 Nepalis currently reside in Japan.

Nepali students also constituted the second-largest group of international students studying in Japan last year, reflecting the importance of educational exchanges in bilateral relations.

He said the growing presence of Nepali students and residents has brought greater vitality to educational, cultural, economic and people-to-people connections.

Educational cooperation has also contributed to human resource development and the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two countries.

The Foreign Minister highlighted the Japanese government's Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship Program, which has enabled Nepali government officials to pursue higher education.

He said the initiative has helped strengthen Nepal's institutional capacity in areas such as public policy, good governance and development administration.

Presidential visit and Japanese honor strengthen bilateral ties

Khanal also referred to Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel's visit to Japan, during which he met the Japanese Emperor and Prime Minister.

He said the presidential visit and the high-level meetings had taken bilateral relations to a new level, further strengthening diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

The Foreign Minister also welcomed the Japanese government's decision to honor former Foreign Secretary and former ambassador Madan Kumar Bhattarai this year.

Bhattarai received the 'Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star' in recognition of his contributions to Nepal-Japan relations.

Khanal expressed happiness over the recognition, describing it as a reflection of the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Nepal, Japan explore wider cooperation in regional challenges

Beyond their existing development partnership, Khanal highlighted opportunities for Nepal and Japan to expand cooperation in several emerging areas.

He pointed to climate change, natural disasters and rapid urbanization as important areas where both countries could strengthen their engagement.

The Foreign Minister also noted that these challenges are common across South Asian countries, creating opportunities for broader regional cooperation.

He said greater collaboration in these sectors could help countries address shared development concerns and strengthen their capacity to respond to emerging challenges.

The growing partnership between Nepal and Japan, supported by educational exchanges, technological cooperation, development assistance and people-to-people connections, continues to provide a foundation for stronger bilateral and regional engagement.