The emperor of Japan and the presidents of India, China and the Maldives and prime ministers of India and China sent separate congratulatory messages to President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday on the eve of the Constitution Day of Nepal.

Emperor Akihito of Japan sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of the constitution promulgation day to President Bhandari, extending congratulations and good wishes for happiness and prosperity of the Nepali people.

Bhandari and Deuba also received separate messages of felicitation from Ram Nath Kovind, the president of India, and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, respectively.

In his message, President Kovind said India-Nepal bilateral relationship is unique, time tested and multifaceted, which is “steeped in our strong cultural ties and civilisational bonds”, a Foreign Ministry statement reads.

Kovind stressed that bilateral partnership was expanding to new and diverse fields for mutual benefit. “India remains committed to working together with the people and government of Nepal in advancing its close and friendly ties and for the well-being of the people of our two countries,” read the message.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his message to President Bhandari, said Beijing attached great importance to the development of Nepal-China relations and its continuous development through deepening cooperation in various bilateral fields.

In his message to PM Deuba, the Indian PM said the two neighbours have longstanding ties of friendship, underpinned by strong people-to-people connections. Prime Minister Modi also expressed his confidence that bilateral ties, based on the foundation of deep-rooted historical and cultural contacts, will continue to expand in diverse sectors and a close development cooperation will bring socio-economic transformation of the lives of the two peoples.

Referring to the state visit to India by PM Deuba last month, Modi said the visit had provided further impetus to the multifaceted bilateral engagement. The message further reads, “As a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its support to the people and government of Nepal in their national efforts to achieve peace, stability and development”.

In his message to PM Deuba, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that China attached great importance to the development of Nepal-China relations and its continuous development through deepening cooperation in various fields.

In his message, the Maldivian president said that cordial relations between the Maldives and Nepal will “go from strength to strength for mutual benefit of the peoples” of the two countries and the Saarc region.