Ties with friendly countries have been further expanded: Foreign Minister

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka has said that the relations with friendly countries have been further expanded after the formation of the present government.

He said this in the meeting of the National Assembly, the Upper House of the Federal Parliament, today while replying to lawmakers' queries on topics related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during discussions on the Appropriation Bill, 2022/023.

Minister Khadka said Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to various countries and the visit of the heads of government of friendly countries to Nepal have further deepened and expanded Nepal's ties with these countries.

He made it clear that the exchanges of bilateral visits have expanded the ties further and nothing has been done to undermine Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Foreign Affairs Minister informed the Upper House that the government has been making constant efforts for resolving the outstanding border issues between Nepal and India, including the border problem at Kalapani, Lipulek, and Limpiyadhura.

According to him, the government has, with a clear view, already urged the Government of India for putting to an end the situation of inundation in the Nepali territory due to the physical infrastructures constructed by India in the border areas.

Stating that the government has made diplomatic initiatives for Nepali students studying in universities and colleges in China who had returned home due to the COVID-19 pandemic to return to China in an easy manner, he said success is being achieved in this.

Foreign Minister Khadka informed on the occasion that the government is making efforts towards making the foreign employment sector more systematic and dignified. He added that the government has also made efforts toward dispatching humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

He shared that initiatives are taken to render the services delivered by the Ministry and its subordinate agencies more effective and people-friendly. The Department of Passport and Consular Services has been made more service-seeker friendly and a policy of zero tolerance toward corruption has been adopted.

The government has for the first time started the Prof Yadunath Khanal Talk Series and its first edition was organized only some days back, the Foreign Affairs Minister informed the National Assembly session.