Lekphell calls on President Bhandari, PM Deuba

 Kathmandu, Jan. 5

Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Tenzin Lekphell Wednesday discussed about enhancing cooperation among the member countries with President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Lekphall called on the President at the latter’s office  in Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday.

According to a press statement issued by the Office of the President, the two talked about making the BIMSTEC process more robust and effective and enhancing cooperation for the same.

High government officials were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Lekphall also called on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at his residence in Baluwatar Wednesday morning. Prime Minister Deuba and Lekphell talked about furthering the progress made in the BIMSTEC initiative so far.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Secretary General called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka where the latter stressed the need for ensuring the fifth summit of BIMSTEC is held this to realise the regional aspirations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement the other day that Dr. Khadka said that the fifth summit would build on the progress made so far.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lekphell paid courtesy calls on Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal, and Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale.

He also called on Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal and Secretary of Commerce and Supplies Dinesh Bhattarai. Matters such as trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people contact as well as broader issues of Nepal-BIMSTEC cooperation were discussed in the meetings.

Lekphell is on a four-day introductory visit to Nepal from 3-6 January 2022.

There are seven members in the initiative: Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 January 2022.