According to Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Arjun Bahadur Thapa, a cabinet meeting held Thursday took formal decision to celebrate May 28 as National Day of Nepal. "We have started communicating the government decision to all the countries with which Nepal has established diplomatic relations, through our missions abroad," he said. [break]
The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) held on Jesth 15, 2063 BS (May 28, 2008) had abolished the 240-year old monarchy in Nepal. As Republic Day according to the Nepali calendar does not always fall on the same day in the Gregorian calendar, the government has decided to celebrate May 28 as National Day from now on.
While the Government of Nepal (GoN) will officially celebrate 15th of the month of Jestha according to Nepali calendar as National Day, foreign heads of government or state will now send congratulatory messages on the occasion of National Day to Nepal on May 28 every year. Nepal has established diplomatic relations with 139 countries with the latest addition being Papua New Guinea on April 12, 2013.
National Day is regarded as important as it signifies nationhood. It can be the date of independence, the date on which a country becomes a republic or a significant date associated with the ruler of the given country.
Unofficially, the Republic Day was being celebrated as National Day in Nepal since the abolition of monarchy. Prior to the abolition of monarchy, Nepal used to celebrate the birthday of the incumbent king as National Day.
However, there was confusion as to which date to celebrate as national day in Nepal after the historic political change that was brought about by the political movement in April, 2006.
Officials at MoFA themselves would find themselves in a quandary when foreign diplomatic missions in Kathmandu would inquire about the date of Nepal´s National Day for sending congratulatory messages from their respective heads of state or government to their Nepalese counterparts.
Vice President Jha to visit China
Vice President Paramananda Jha is paying an official visit to China from June 4 to 9 to participate in the First China South Asia Expo.
According to MoFA Spokesperson Thapa, Vice President Jha is scheduled to visit Kunming, Beijing and Shanghai during his six-day stay in China. He will also hold meeting with his Chinese counterpart on the occasion.
Thapa said the 10-member delegation will include government officials from various ministries including the commerce secretary.
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