Nepal, Japan revise ASA

Kathmandu, Jan. 9

Japan has opened its sky for Nepali airlines to operate direct flights.

Nepal and Japan on Wednesday signed the exchange of notes for revising the Air Service Agreement between Nepal and Japan signed in 1993 to allow Nepali airlines to operate direct flights to Japanese airports except for Haneda.

"The exchange of notes has paved the way for the operation of direct flight between the two countries," said Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali at a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono in the capital.

The two countries had reviewed the agreement in June last year and agreed to activate the new provision after the exchange of notes.

So far, Nepali airlines were allowed to land at and take off from the Osaka Airport only. As per the new agreement Nepali airlines can operate 14 flights per week to Japan.

"We hope that Nepal Airlines Corporation will operate its direct flights to Japan at the earliest," said Kono.

Similarly, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on conducting bilateral consultation has been signed between the two countries.

"The MoC will provide a platform to both countries to discuss modalities for extending the cooperation, review all aspects of bilateral relations, explore new areas of cooperation and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concerns," said Gyawali.

Similarly, Gyawali and Kono discussed bilateral cooperation for the implementation of infrastructure, connectivity and energy projects in Nepal and Japanese investment in priority sectors here.

Similarly, Nepal appealed to the Japanese investors and entrepreneurs for their active participation in the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit which will be held in March this year.

Likewise, Foreign Minister Gyawali thanked the Japanese government for including Nepal as a source country for labour. The two countries have agreed to conclude an MoC on the topic as soon as possible.

Japanese Minister Kono said that periodic meetings between the two countries would be continued in the future in order to strengthen the relations and enhance cooperation.

He said that Nepal and Japan had cultural, economic and people to people relations.

The two sides also stressed on the need of joint efforts for tourism promotion of Nepal in Japan in order to make the Visit Nepal Year 2020 successful.

"We have underscored the need of continued exchange of high-level visits in order to take measures for further elevating our bilateral relations," said Gyawali.

The two ministers addressed the joint press meet after bilateral talks here.

Kono is in Nepal on a two-day visit leading an 18-member delegation. He is scheduled to call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 January 2019.