Nepal-Pakistan to enhance economic and cultural relations

Pak PM Abbasi arrives Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Feb. 5: Pakistani Prime Minister ShahidKhaqanAbbasi arrived Kathmandu on Monday on a 2-day official visit.

He held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the evening where both of them exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, and Abbasi congratulated Oli on being elected the PM of Nepal.

“He conveyed felicitation to the Nepali leadership on the successful conclusion of its democratic process, resulting in the formation of a new government,” said Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu.

Following the bilateral meeting, PM Oli hosted a reception dinner in honour of the visiting dignitary.

Pakistani Embassy said that the visit was a part of Pakistan’s pro-active and outreach efforts to engage with regional countries.

It said that Pakistan has taken the visit as an opportunity to further expand and strengthen bilateral relations across all areas of mutual interest including trade, education, tourism, defence and people to people contact.

“Nepal is an important regional country and a close friend. Our ties with Nepal are characterized by cordiality, mutual respect and commonality of interest. Our support to each other at bilateral and multilateral fora has remained indispensible for both the sides,” said the Embassy.

The government offered ‘Guard of Honour’ to the visiting Pakistani PM at the Tundikhel. He has become the first foreign heal of government to receive ‘Guard of Honour’ at the Tundikhel as it was presented at the Airport till now.

Minister of Finance Yuba Raj Khatiwada welcomed PM Abbasi at the Tribhuvan International Airport while PM Oli welcomed him at the Tundihkel.

Abbasi is scheduled to call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday.

PM Abbasi will leave for Islamabad on Tuesday. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 6 March 2018.