Mechanism set up to enhance Nepal-Canada relations

Published On: September 26, 2018 04:00 AM NPT

KATHMANDU, Sept 25: Nepal and Canada have established a consultative mechanism to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

During a meeting between Prime Minister KP Oli and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau at New York on Monday, the two leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

This is the first of its kind mechanism established between the two countries after Nepal established a residential embassy in Ottawa in 2009.

Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali; chief advisor to the prime minister, Bishnu Rimal; Foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi; and Nepali ambassador to Canada Kali Prasad Pokharel were among those present at the meeting. The Canadian delegation led by Prime Minister Trudeau included assistant secretary to the cabinet John Hannaford, global affairs policy advisor to the Prime Minister Patrick Travers and permanent representative of Canada to the UN Marc-André Blanchard. Nepal and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1965. Canada's bilateral relations with Nepal are managed by the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi. According to Canadian government's website, Canada contributed approximately $470 million in support of international assistance projects in Nepal from 1968 to 2013.

In the aftermath of the major earthquake in 2015, Canada provided $51.7 million, including $27 million in humanitarian assistance and $24.7 million in support of Nepal's long-term recovery and reconstruction.

As per the original itinerary, the prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Swiss president Alain Berset and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, besides a ritual meeting with UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres. Foreign Ministry officials said Prime Minister Oli is likely to hold bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Teresa May on the margins of the UNGA.

On the sidelines of the UNGA on Monday, Foreign Minister Gyawali also held meeting with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.