Concluding a day-long Nepal visit, Kamikawa Yoko, the foreign minister of Japan, returned home on Sunday evening.

In her talks with President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, she brought up the changing geopolitics of Asia while assuring Japanese support to Nepal as it graduates from a least developed country (LDCs) in 2026.

In the delegation-level talks with DPM Shrestha, besides discussing ongoing projects and looking for new avenues of cooperation, Kamikawa also talked about regional geopolitics, two participants in the meeting told the Post.

Japan and China are rivals in several areas, including in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific. The Japan-US strategic relationship and Japan’s active participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), commonly known as the Quad, have also been a source of friction between the two countries.

Japan is in favour of a rules-based international order, she said at the delegation-level talks with DPM Shrestha. “We are also in favour of a peaceful Asia,” the visiting minister stressed. Rules-based international order is the terminology that the Western bloc uses, particularly in the context of counterbalance to China’s actions in the South China Sea.

“She raised some geopolitical issues that Japan currently confronts. She did not name any particular country but we could easily sense which she meant. The issue of the South China Sea, maritime security, freedom of navigation and rule-based international order were the topics of discussion,” said one of the participants.

“We don’t need to respond to these issues,” said the participant. “We listened, and we think we understood her.”

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPM Shrestha held bilateral talks with Kamikawa at Singha Durbar where the two leaders reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations and cooperation so far and discussed ways to elevate economic and development cooperation as well as cultural and people-to-people relations.

The two sides discussed enhancing support and cooperation in Nepal’s major developmental priorities such as agriculture, hydropower, infrastructure development, connectivity, export promotion, industrial production, foreign investment and tourism sectors, the foreign ministry stated.

“We have also received an assurance from the Japanese side that they will continue to assist Nepal even after we graduate from the ranks of LDCs,” said Amrit Bahadur Rai, the foreign ministry spokesperson.

The matters discussed between the two sides included the transfer of experience, knowledge, skill, and technology to such sectors of Nepal as industrial development, agriculture, hydroelectricity, and infrastructure development. Nepal also hopes to receive Japanese assistance in building road tunnels.

As 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations, the leaders underscored the need to commemorate the year with high-level exchanges and events, said the statement. The two sides also discussed matters relating to increased cooperation at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

In the meeting with Dahal, the Japanese minister discussed issues of bilateral interest and economic cooperation, said Rupak Sapkota, foreign relations adviser to the prime minister.

Dahal thanked Kamikawa for Japan’s continued support for Nepal’s infrastructure and socio-economic development. Kamikawa proposed that Nepal and Japan further build bilateral ties while promising her country’s help in Nepal’s economic development.

The Japanese foreign minister touched down in Kathmandu in the morning, where Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal welcomed her at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Following her arrival, the Japanese foreign minister proceeded to Basantapur Durbar Square, where she took some time to explore the historic site before beginning her official engagements.

Speaking to the media, Foreign Minister Shrestha said discussions were held on strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing economic cooperation.

The delegations also discussed several global issues, said Minister Shrestha.

He said no agreement or memorandum of understanding was signed during the goodwill visit.

Before wrapping up her visit, the Japanese minister called on Prime Minister Dahal at Singha Durbar and President Ramchandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas.

During the meeting, Paudel expressed Nepal’s concerns over preserving the Himalayas and water resources. The President urged developed nations to show greater sensitivity to reducing the impacts of climate change, according to Kiran Pokharel, press adviser to the President.

Paudel emphasised cultural ties between Nepal and Japan, tracing back to the time of Gautam Buddha. He highlighted the harmonious and trouble-free relationship between the two countries.

He hailed Japan as a dependable partner in Nepal's socioeconomic development.

On the occasion, Japanese Minister Kamikawa called for collaboration to protect the mountains of Nepal and other countries.

Kamikawa visited Nepal at the invitation of DPM Shrestha. She is the fourth Japanese foreign minister to visit Nepal after the two countries established diplomatic relations in September 1956.