Japan has honoured former speaker and Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel with the ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ award.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Kikuta Yutaka handed over the award at the function at the embassy on Thursday.

Poudel received the decoration announced on April 29, 2020, in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the relationship between Japan and Nepal and promoting the interchange of members of parliaments of both countries, the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu said in a press release.

The ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ is a Japanese order established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji.

Poudel established the Japan-Nepal Friendship Parliamentarian League in 1999 when he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Poudel contributed to the activation of contacts between parliamentarians of the two countries and was also actively involved in the promotion of bilateral relations by receiving many VIPs from Japan, the embassy said.

Receiving the award, Poudel thanked the Japanese Emperor Naruhito and the Japanese government, adding he was happy to be recognised for his role in advancing the relationship between the two countries.

Japanese Decorations are conferred upon foreigners twice a year, on April 29 and November 3 each year, concurrently with the conferment of decorations and medals to Japanese nationals.

The ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ is bestowed upon individuals of merit, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the nation or public.

This is also conferred upon foreign nationals who have made notable contributions to the promotion of relations between Japan and other countries in areas such as politics and diplomacy, research and education, medicine and social welfare, economy and industry, and culture and sports.