The government of Japan has decided to confer the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on senior Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel, recognising his contribution in strengthening Nepal-Japan ties.

The announcement was made in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu.

“The Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2020 Spring Imperial Decorations. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal, Ram Chandra Poudel, is among this year’s foreign recipients,” said the embassy in a statement. “In recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the relationship between Japan and Nepal, he will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.”

According to the embassy, Poudel contributed to the activation of contacts between parliamentarians of the two countries and established the Japan Nepal Friendship Parliamentarian League in 1999 when he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal.

Poudel was the chairman of the League from the beginning until 2017.

“He was also actively involved in the promotion of bilateral relations by receiving many dignitaries from Japan such as Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Minoru Kiuchi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and others and participated in the 40 year, 50 year and 60 year anniversaries of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” said the embassy.

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

The Imperial Decorations 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.

Poudel, 76, has contributed to the activation of contacts between parliamentarians of the two countries, established the Japan Nepal Friendship Parliamentarian League in 1999 when he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal.