KATHMANDU, Sept 6: Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Sunday, with discussions focusing on the search for South Korean nationals missing after the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood and ongoing search, rescue and relief efforts.
The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singha Durbar. According to the ministry, Khanal expressed gratitude to the South Korean government for sending an inter-agency rapid response team and the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to the flood-affected areas of Nepal.
Khanal also appreciated South Korea’s humanitarian assistance and provision of relief materials.
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Highlighting resilient, sustainable and quality infrastructure as Nepal’s next priority, Khanal expressed hope for continued support from South Korea in reconstruction efforts.
In response, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the South Korean government was ready to support Nepal’s post-disaster reconstruction. He said the international community bears historical responsibility for the damage suffered by countries such as Nepal due to climate change.
Cho stressed that Nepal and South Korea should work together at global forums such as the Conference of the Parties (COP) to raise awareness among other countries about the impacts of climate change.
He also said South Korea would raise its voice for the financial assistance Nepal is entitled to receive from the international community.
The two foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to working closely to further strengthen and elevate their countries’ longstanding bilateral relationship based on friendship, mutual trust and cooperation.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrived in Nepal to inquire about the situation of the nine South Korean nationals who remain unaccounted for following the Bhotekoshi flood.
