Nepal France plan promotion of common agenda

 Nepal and France today stressed the importance of the high-level visits and interactions to promote the agendas of common interest.

During the second meeting of Nepal-France Bilateral Consultation Mechanism – virtually held with France as the host – that concluded today, both the nations also held a wide range of matters relating to bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on the overall state of bilateral relations between the two countries since the official visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to France in June 2019, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.

“The meeting discussed ways and means to promote bilateral trade and investment, transfer of technology and tourism for mutual benefit,” the press note reads, adding that the centuries-old cultural exchange and the ever-increasing people-to-people contacts were also discussed during the meeting. “While highlighting the efforts at the national and international levels towards addressing the adverse impacts of climate change, the two sides also shared their national experiences as well as commitment to continuing mutual cooperation in the context of Covid-19.”

The two sides also discussed possible cooperation in mutually beneficial areas at multilateral level, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The Nepali delegation led by joint secretary for Europe and the Americas at the ministry Nirmal Raj Kafle and also comprised officials from the finance, industry, commerce and supply, forest and environment, and tourism ministries.

Head of Asia and Oceania division at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Bertland Lortholary led the French delegation. Ambassadors in both the capitals were part of their respective delegations. The French delegation also comprised of French ambassador to Nepal François-Xavier Léger, and deputy chief of Mission Leela Devaradjalou, whereas the Nepali delegation comprised of senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Finance, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).