Government urges Japan to start Kathmandu-Tokyo flight

As the national flag carrier has no aircraft to fly on regular international routes, minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Ram Kumar Shrestha has urged Japan to start direct flights between Tokyo and Kathmandu.

During the Everest Nepal Exhibition — to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt Everest on May 29, 1953 — today and yesterday in Tokyo, Shrestha also urged Japan to renew the Air Service Agreement between the two countries.

Junko Tabei, the first woman to scale Mt Everest in 1975 and also the first female to scale seven summits in all the continents in 1992, also attended the programme.

Shrestha, during the bilateral meeting with parliamentary senior vice-minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism of Japan Yosuke Tsuroho stressed on issues related to bilateral tourism promotion too.

He also had a bilateral meeting with president of Japan-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship League Toshihiro Nikai, who is a ranking leader of the Liberal Democratic Party.

During the meeting with parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs Minoru Kiuchi, Shrestha thanked Japan for its continued support to Nepal’s socio-economic development, conservation and development of Lumbini — the birthplace of Lord Buddha — institutionalisation of peace and democratisation.

Stressing on issues related to tourism promotion between Nepal and Japan and their importance for bilateral relations, Shrestha also highlighted the importance of tourism and thanked Japan for its support in facilitating the upgradation of Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA).

Japanese representatives, on the occasion, stressed on bilateral relationship between Japan and Nepal. They said that Japan was keen on supporting Nepal in its policy to enhance the pace of socio-economic development.