President Ramchandra Paudel returned to Nepal on Wednesday after completing an official visit to Japan, where he attended programmes marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, ministers and heads of security agencies received the President at the VIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport. The Nepal Army accorded him a guard of honour on the occasion.

Paudel had left for Japan on Sunday night at the invitation of the Japanese government, leading a Nepali delegation that included First Lady Sabita Paudel. During the visit, he took part in a special reception organised by the Japanese government in Tokyo to commemorate seven decades of Nepal–Japan diplomatic ties.

President Paudel also paid a courtesy call on Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, and held separate courtesy meetings with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Hori.

Nepal and Japan established diplomatic relations on September 1, 1956. Nepal opened its embassy in Tokyo in 1965, while Japan set up its embassy in Kathmandu in 1967.