Nepal, South Africa agree to enhance mutual cooperation

Published On: March 11, 2022 04:05 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, March 11: Nepal and South Africa have agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in various sectors.

Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal and Acting Director General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of the Republic of South Africa Nonce baLosi signed the Declaration of Intent on Cooperation on behalf of their respective Governments in Pretoria on Thursday.

Addressing the Signing Ceremony, Foreign Secretary Paudyal stated that the Declaration would provide a fundamental basis for further strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Nepal and South Africa.

Foreign Secretary Paudyal recalled Nepal’s solidarity with the South African people in their struggle for freedom, dignity and equality.

Acting Director General of DIRCO Losi warmly welcomed the Nepali delegation and stated that this day would mark the new beginning in the friendly relations between Nepal and South Africa. She appreciated Nepal for firmly standing by the side of South African people in their fight against apartheid.

The signing ceremony was followed by the First Nepal-South Africa Bilateral Consultation meeting.

The meeting discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral relations between the two countries, including trade, tourism, foreign direct investment, people-to-people contacts, and cultural cooperation as well as exchange of UN peacekeeping experience.

The second meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism will be held in Kathmandu in 2024.

Foreign Secretary Paudyal also had a separate meeting on Thursday with Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Candith Mashego-Dlamini. Matters such as COVID-19 control, vaccine equity and economic recovery featured during the meeting.

In an interview to Ubuntu Radio run by DIRCO, the Foreign Secretary highlighted key priorities of Nepal and potential areas that the two countries could explore to add more substance into their bilateral relations.

The Nepali delegation led by the Foreign Secretary consisted of Harishchandra Ghimire, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gyan Bahadur Magar, Charge´d'Affaires at the Embassy of Nepal in Pretoria and other officials of the Ministry and the Embassy.