FM Dr. Rana urges Vietnam for flights to GBIA, PIA

Kathmandu, Aug. 23

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has urged Vice President of Vietnam, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, to help create conditions for flights from Vietnam to Nepal’s Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport (PIA).

During her courtesy call to VP Vo in Kathmandu on Saturday, she requested Vietnam’s support in the post-2026 context, as Nepal prepares for graduation from the status of Least Developed Country (LDC), according to a statement issued by the FM Dr. Rana's secretariat.

Pointing out that the number of tourists travelling between Nepal and Vietnam had grown significantly in recent years, FM Dr. Rana expressed the view that both countries should seize this opportunity and collaborate in advancing the tourism sector.

VP Vo arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday morning for a 3-day official visit at the invitation of Nepal's VP Ramsahay Prasad Yadav.

Likewise, FM Dr. Rana stressed the need to highlight the cultural ties between the two countries, underlining Buddhism as a strong bond that further deepens relations between the peoples of Nepal and Vietnam. Referring to the large number of Vietnamese citizens who visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, she said that the two countries could work together in the field of promoting cultural tourism.

She also sought Vietnam’s backing for Nepal’s candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council for the term 2027–2029 and for the Economic and Social Council for 2029–2031. In response, Vice President Vo expressed Vietnam’s commitment to support Nepal.

The meeting recalled that Nepal and Vietnam have long extended cooperation and mutual support at both bilateral and multilateral levels, and it was agreed that the two countries should continue to work together on global agendas such as South–South cooperation and climate change.

As members of the G77 and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Vice President Vo and FM Dr. Rana said that Nepal and Vietnam are working in unison to safeguard the interests of developing countries.

VP Vo's visit marks the first-ever highest-level engagement from Vietnam to Nepal.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 August 2025.