NA Chairperson Timilsina and Australian Speaker meet

National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina and Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Milton Dick, had a meeting today.

On the occasion, the Upper House Chairperson Timilsina expressed the confidence that the relations between Nepal and Australia would reach further high with Speaker Dick's visit to Nepal. Stating that Nepal and Australia have cordial, cooperative relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties since 1960, he expressed happiness over the friendly relations based on mutual trust, understanding and cooperation further expanding and deepening in the recent days.

The National Assembly Chairperson stressed on the need of sharing of each other's experiences for making the democratic system, norms and values and institutions between the two countries more consolidated. The friendship group in the parliament will make the relations between the parliaments of both countries more dynamic, he added.

Lauding Australia for the contribution it has been making towards Nepal's social and economic development, the NA Chair believed that Australian cooperation would further increase for the social and economic development of a land-locked and least developed country like Nepal in the days ahead.

"I have the confidence that the Australian government will continue its support to Nepal in its prioritized goal of becoming a middle-income country by attaining the sustainable development goals by 2030," Chairperson Timilsina said.

He also appreciated the assistance provided by Australia in health, education, local government capacity enhancement and other sectors as well as expected further cooperation and collaboration in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

Chair Timilsina said both Nepal and Australia should make efforts for establishing direct air flights between the two countries in the context of more than 60,000 Nepali students studying and over 122,000 Nepalis living in Australia.

During the meeting, Australian Speaker Dick expressed happiness over the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Province Assemblies of Nepal were going for a study visit to Australia to learn about the federalism and its experience.

He said Australia's experience in the practice of federalism would also be useful for Nepal. Speaker Dick expressed the confidence that the cordial relations between Nepal and Australia will gain further height and the exchange of parliamentary experiences will help make federalism stronger.

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