Kathmandu, February 20: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has said Nepal and Bangladesh have agreed to further strengthen their mutual economic relations. Upon his return home following a three-day official visit to Bangladesh on Wednesday (Feb 19), Minister Gyawali shared with the media that they agreed to promote and expand energy and trade.
“Substantive discussion with the Bangladeshi foreign minister was held to strengthen friendly relations. Agreement was made on bilateral trade promotion, identification of the area for trade, clearance of hurdles, increase in exportable goods,” he said, adding that Bangladesh was positive for more convenient transit.
Also agreed during the meeting were the expansion of connectivity between the two countries, arrangement of direct flight between the cities of the two countries, upgrading of the roadways, rail network, river linking and development of waterways, Minister Gyawali added. Bangladesh has decided to augment investment in Nepal’s energy, agriculture and tourism sectors. During the visit, Gyawali requested Bangladesh to send its tourists to Nepal in the context of Visit Nepal Year 2020.
Both sides also agreed to boost relations in the academic field in view of the large number of Nepalis studying medicine and engineering in Bangladesh. Discussions were also held to further cement the people-to-people relations in both the two countries.
No impact on Sagarmatha Sambad
On a different note, he said that Nepal has solidarity and sympathy in China at this moment of crisis. The menace of coronavirus in China will not affect the Sagarmatha Sambad the government has planned. Similarly, he said Nepal, as the head of the SAARC, will make efforts to give the much-needed momentum to the regional bloc.
Minister Gyawali also expected that the study team in which he is also the member will submit its report on the US assistance relating to Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
