Nepal-Belgium first BCM meeting concludes in Kathmandu

Published On: September 20, 2019 12:29 PM NPT By: Pratik Rana

Photo courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

KATHMANDU, Sept 20: The first-ever meeting of the Nepal-Belgium Bilateral Consultation Mechanism concluded in Kathmandu on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two sides took stock of all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on further promoting cooperation between the two countries, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Views were also exchanged on the importance of exploring high-level visits and engaging in global issues such as Climate Change, and on the role of the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad in this regard," read the press release.

The two sides discussed the various ways of enhancing cooperation in the areas of trade, tourism, and investment and, promoting people-to-people contacts, according to the ministry. The regional and international issues of mutual interests were also discussed during the meeting.

Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Director General for Bilateral Affairs of the Federal Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of Belgium Anick Van Calster led their respective delegations during the meeting.

The Belgian delegation consisted of Francois Delhaye, Non Residential Ambassador of Belgium to Nepal, Arnout Pauwels, Deputy Director Asia-Pacific Department of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, Alain Baetens, First Secretary at the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi, Roel Markey, and Desk Officer Asia-Pacific of the Belgian Foreign Ministry as well as the Honorary Consul of Belgium in Kathmandu Ang Tsering Sherpa.

The Nepali delegation included Lok Bahadur Thapa, ambassador of Nepal to Belgium, Nirmal Raj Kafle, joint secretary and head of Europe and America Division at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tek Bahadur Khatri, undersecretary at Ministry of Finance and officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism was signed between Nepal and Belgium on June 27, 2018. The next meeting of the Mechanism will take place in Brussels at a mutually convenient date, the ministry said.