Minister Saud holds talks with New Zealand DPM

 Kathmandu, Feb. 14

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Narayan Prakash Saud, on Wednesday held bilateral meeting with Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) of New Zealand in Wellington.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in the areas of mutual interests, Embassy of Nepal in Canberra of Australia (which is also accredited to New Zealand) informed in a statement on Wednesday.

In the afternoon, FM Saud visited the Parliament of New Zealand and observed the 'Question Time' in the Parliament. His presence in the Parliament was acknowledged by Gerry Brownlee, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand.

The Nepali Society in Wellington together with the Honorary Consul of Nepal to New Zealand organised an interaction programme with the Minister and the visiting delegation.

They talked about the matters relating to providing passport and consular services to the Nepali community in New Zealand more conveniently and utilising the knowledge, expertise and skills of Nepalis residing in New Zealand for the benefit of the country.

Earlier in the morning, the second edition of the Nepal-New Zealand Foreign Ministry Consultation (FMC) was held between the senior officials of both Ministries. Rita Dhital, Joint Secretary, of South East Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) Division and Joanna Kempkers, Divisional Manager of South Asia and South East Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand led their respective delegations.

The members of the Nepali delegation consisted of Kailash Raj Pokharel, Ambassador of Nepal and Komal Baral, Section Officer, SEAP Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal while from the New Zealand side, Mary Thurston, Unit Manager and April Kwak, Nepal Desk Officer of the South and South East Asia Division were the members of the delegation.

During the meeting, the two sides took stock of various aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on further promoting cooperation through enhancing economic and cultural engagements between the two countries, read the statement.

Minister Saud reached Wellington on Tuesday and was welcomed at the airport by officials of MFAT of New Zealand, Honorary Consul of Nepal to New Zealand Dinesh Khadka, and the representatives of the Nepali community. The Nepali delegation is scheduled to return to Kathmandu, after concluding the visit of Australia and New Zealand, on Thursday. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 February 2024.