Kathmandu, Feb. 15
Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has requested the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Economy and Trade of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ahmad Ali Al Sayegh for direct flights between Dubai and Pokhara.
The two ministers met on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference on Sunday where Minister Sayegh assured that a technical study would be initiated immediately, with a plan to launch flights soon, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in its statement on Sunday.
Their discussions also covered bilateral relations, including labour, tourism, and economic development, as well as collaborative efforts in tackling climate change. Minister Sayegh acknowledged Nepali workers’ significant contributions to the UAE’s socio-economic development.
The two ministers further explored future cooperation in trade, investment and tourism. On the occasion, FM Dr. Rana invited the UAE to participate in the upcoming Sagarmatha Dialogue to be held in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the conference, FM Dr. Rana held a meeting with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi and requested Qatar’s assistance in facilitating safe release of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali national abducted by Hamas in October 2023 during an attack in Israel.
Their discussions also covered bilateral relations, including Qatar’s scholarships for Nepali students and the deployment of skilled technical manpower.
FM Dr. Rana commended Qatar’s role in mediating ceasefires and peace talks between Israel and Hamas and urged them to intensify efforts for Joshi’s release.
Previously, Minister Deuba had also raised this issue in a phone conversation with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, a key mediator in Israel-Hamas negotiations.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 February 2025.
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