Nepal-Switzerland Bilateral Consultations Mechanism Fifth Meeting Concludes in Kathmandu

Kathmandu. The fifth meeting of the Nepal-Switzerland Bilateral Consultations Mechanism concluded in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The meeting, held to mark the completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Switzerland, reviewed various aspects of the overall relationship and cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Both sides praised the long-standing friendship and close partnership between the two countries and expressed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in the coming days. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nepali side informed the Swiss side about the latest political and economic situation in Nepal and presented good governance, corruption control, transparency, digital transformation, and effective public service delivery as priorities of the new government. It was also informed that the development of hydropower production and transmission, tourism, and information technology sectors are the major economic goals of the government. The Nepali side expressed gratitude to the Swiss government for continuously prioritizing Nepal through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Appreciating the cooperation provided by Switzerland in areas such as the implementation of federalism, construction of suspension bridges, migration management, community forestry, technical and vocational education, and disaster resilience, it was urged to further expand the scope of cooperation in line with Nepal's priorities. The meeting also exchanged views on regional and global issues of common interest, including climate change, and cooperation in multilateral forums. Both sides agreed to expedite the conclusion of proposed Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements. On the Nepali side, Joint Secretary Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, Head of the Europe Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on the Swiss side, Markus Leitner, Head of the Asia and Pacific Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the meeting, leading their respective delegations. The Nepali delegation included officials from the Europe Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and concerned ministries, while the Swiss delegation included Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Daniel Meuli, officials from the said division, and officials from the Swiss Embassy in Nepal. Similarly, on Wednesday, the Swiss delegation paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai in his office. On that occasion, both sides expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the mechanism's meeting. The Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the mechanism between Nepal and Switzerland was signed on November 4, 2015.