Foreign Minister returns to Nepal

Foreign Minister Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal has returned home today after completing a friendly visit to Sri Lanka. She went there to participate in the 75th Independence Day of Sri Lanka and held various high-level meetings along with the visit.

She had a courtesy meeting with the Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe. Informing that various matters of mutual interest and interest between the two countries were discussed during the meeting. She said, "We request for cooperation on the expansion of air connectivity with the Bhairahawa International Airport, cultural exchange between the two countries, and the study of Buddhist philosophy in Nepal." Earlier, Minister Paudyal had a courtesy meeting with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dinesh Gunabradhane.

She had separate meetings with the Foreign Ministers of India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka, who were in Colombo to participate in the Independence Day of Sri Lanka. In all the meetings, she said that She has made a clear statement about the need to activate the activities of the South Asian Regional Cooperation Organization (SAARC) and the need to expand the mutual discussion and cooperation network among the SAARC countries.

"There are various mechanisms of SAARC. At present, there has been a positive discussion about various options, including whether to reactivate SAARC through other lower mechanisms without sitting at the level of the head of state/government. However, there is still homework to be done" Minister Paudyal said, "In order to make the activities of SAARC effective and operational again, there has been a discussion about holding an online meeting of foreign secretaries of SAARC countries."

Informing that Sri Lanka is trying to establish a university related to climate change, Minister Paudyal said that there has been a discussion about cooperation with Nepal. She said that South Asian countries are at risk of climate change and that the upcoming International Conference on Climate Change (COP-28) has talked to everyone to establish an informal network to create a single voice in this region.

Similarly, Minister Paudyal said that there was talk about energy trade with Bangladesh, and there was a discussion with Maldives about making an agreement with Nepali doctors and nurses and moving the process forward.