FM Khanal holds bilateral meeting with UAE counterpart

Kathmandu, Sept. 27

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting, held at the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations in New York on Saturday, FM Khanal expressed appreciation and gratitude to the UAE for their solidarity with communities affected by the devastating Bhotekoshi floods in Nepal, and humanitarian assistance provided, including its recent commitment to provide an additional US$25 million in financial assistance.

"The two leaders discussed labour, trade, investment, tourism, renewable energy, connectivity and multilateral cooperation under the United Nations, among other issues," FM Khanal's Secretariat informed in a statement.

Khanal meets UN Human Rights Commissioner

Earlier, FM Khanal held a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the United Nations Headquarters at the sidelines of the ongoing UNGA.

According to the Foreign Ministry, they discussed Nepal-UN cooperation and issues related to human rights.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on matters related to Nepal's nationally owned and led peace process, the interrelationship between development and human rights, and the devastating effects of growing climate change.

Ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following the Bhotekoshi disaster in Nepal were also discussed during the meeting.

Nepal, Belarus sign visa exemption agreement

Similarly, Nepal and Belarus signed an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.

The agreement was signed by FM Khanal and his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov at a side event in of the UNGA.

The two foreign ministers also expressed their commitment to expand cooperation in areas including labour, education, trade, investment and people-to-people relations.

Earlier, during the ongoing UN Assembly in New York, Nepal had also signed a similar visa exemption agreement with Kazakhstan.

Interaction with Non-Resident Nepalis

Meanwhile, speaking in an interaction programme organised by Non-Resident Nepalis and other diaspora organisations in the United States, Foreign Minister Khanal outlined the government's policy and priorities for engaging the Nepali diaspora as an important partner in Nepal's economic transformation.

He presented the government's approach to utilising the knowledge, skills, capital, technology and networks of the Nepali diaspora for Nepal's economic development and transformation.

"The government's priority is to further strengthen relations between Nepal and the Nepali diaspora and effectively mobilise the diaspora's contribution to Nepal's economic transformation," he said.

Meanwhile, three Nepali organisations based in the United States handed over US$226,000 in assistance for people affected by the Bhotekoshi floods to Foreign Minister Khanal. Out of the total support, US$120,000 is from NH Nepali Samaj, US$93,000 from America Nepal Helping Society, Virginia, and US$13,000 from Gurung Society Inc. USA.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 28 September 2026.