KATHMANDU, Feb 14: Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud held a bilateral meeting with Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) of New Zealand at Wellington on Wednesday.

During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of bilateral relations between Nepal and New Zealand and exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in the areas of mutual interests, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Australia.

Minister Saud attended the luncheon hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of New Zealand.

In the afternoon, Minister Saud visited the Parliament of New Zealand and observed the Question Time at the Parliament. His presence in the Parliament was acknowledged by Gerry Brownlee, the speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand.

The Nepali Society in Wellington together with the Honorary Consul of Nepal to New Zealand organized an interaction programme with Minister Saud and the visiting delegation at Wellington. Matters relating to providing passport and consular services to Nepali communities in New Zealand more conveniently and utilizing the knowledge, expertise and skills of Nepalis residing in New Zealand for the benefit of the country were discussed.

Minister Saud also visited Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum of New Zealand, and observed the vast repository of cultural attractions.

Earlier in the morning, the Second edition of Nepal-New Zealand Foreign Ministry Consultation (FMC) was held among senior officials of both the Ministries.

Rita Dhital, Joint Secretary, South East Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) Division and Joanna Kempkers, Divisional Manager South Asia and SouthEast Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand led their respective delegations.

The members of the Nepali delegation consisted of Kailash Raj Pokharel, Ambassador of Nepal, and Komal Baral, Section Officer, SEAP Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal while from New Zealand side, Mary Thurston, Unit Manager and April Kwak, Nepal Desk Officer of the South and SouthEast Asia Division were the members of the delegation.

During the meeting, the two sides took stock of various aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on further promoting cooperation through enhancement of economic and cultural engagements between the two countries.

Minister Saud reached Wellington, New Zealand on Tuesday. He was welcomed at the airport by officials of MFAT of New Zealand, Honorary Consul of Nepal to New Zealand, Dinesh Khadka, and the representatives of the Nepali community. 

Concluding a successful visit to Australia and New Zealand, the Foreign Minister and the delegation will depart for Kathmandu on February 15. 

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