President Paudel's official visit to Germany expected to enhance diplomatic ties

Kathmandu, June 18: President Ramchandra Paudel's recent visit to Switzerland and the ongoing visit to the Federal Republic of Germany are expected to be instrumental in further consolidating and renewing Nepal's bilateral ties with these European nations. Germany offered a huge welcome and hospitality to the President and his delegation, reflecting its goodwill towards Nepal. The President has been on an official visit to Germany since 15 June 2024 at the friendly invitation of his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The two held a bilateral meeting on Monday and Germany's President assured of much support to Nepal. The two Heads of State reportedly reviewed the bilateral relations being based on development support, trade, tourism, investment, and vocational training in a very cordial atmosphere. President Paudel encouraged Germany to support Nepal's agriculture, tourism, and water resources sectors, highlighting them as the development priorities of Nepal. The President departed for Germany after completing his visit to Switzerland. President Paudel also extended his invitation to his German counterpart for an official visit to Nepal.

The year of Germany's unification coincided with the year of Nepal's restoration of democracy, he recalled. The visit is expected to contribute additionally to enhancing Nepal's diplomatic relations in the entire Europe. Political analyst Dr Chandra Dev Bhatta said the Head of State's visit to Germany after a long gap should be considered an important one. "Of late, Nepal's official relations with Europe have not been consolidated as per the expectations and this high-level visit will help address this gap." He advised that Nepal should take measures to promote its relations with Germany which is the world's third economic power and the most powerful nation in Europe. "Nepal's presence in Germany and its relations with it have to be sustained as it is the world's third largest economy and a powerful European nation," he added.

In connection with this visit, President Paudel held bilateral talks on June 12 with President of the Swiss Confederation, Ms Viola Amherd in Bern before this. Foreign affairs expert Dinesh Bhattarai also opined that the high-level visit from Nepal after a long time will help further strengthen the climate of trust between the two countries. "Germany is Nepal's close friend. Nepal has special relations with the socialist leaders and party of Germany. Willy Brandt, the former German Chancellor and the leader of the Social Democratic Party and Nepal's popular leader BP Koirala were close friends," he added.

Stating that the visit of the Head of State in itself is meaningful and significant, former ambassador Bhattarai expressed the belief that this visit would contribute to expanding the areas of cooperation in future. According to him, Nepal can take notable benefit from Germany through export of handicraft goods and carpet, among other goods as well as through tourism promotion. This is the first time since 1986 that a Head of State from Nepal has made an official visit to Germany. Dr Suresh Chandra Chalise, the foreign affairs expert to the President, expressed the belief that this visit taking place at the Head of State-level from Nepal after 38 years would contribute towards further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.

He stated that President's this visit to the world's third largest economy and Europe's influential country, Germany, would help in increasing investment and trade in Nepal. Chalise, who is accompanying the President in the visit, said on the telephone, "Germany is Nepal's major development partner and there are so far no ups and downs in bilateral relations with it. The German government provided notable support to Nepal after the 2015 earthquake and during the COVID-19 pandemic as well." Nepal and Germany established diplomatic relations on April 4, 1958. Since then, the ties between the two countries have progressed based on friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.

Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai said that the visits taking place at various levels between the two countries would assist in further deepening the mutual relations. "We are confident that this visit at the Head of State level will contribute in bringing the German investment and technology into Nepal. Germany has made a good deal of study and practices on adaptation to safeguard from the effects of climate change, and there are many things that Nepal can learn from this as well," he said.