Thailand visit, BIMSTEC participation fruitful; we will deepen Nepal-India relations: PM Oli

Kathmandu / April 5: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said his official visit to Thailand and attendance at the sixth Summit of the BIMSTEC was very successful and meaningful.

His official visit to Thailand has reached the bilateral relations to a new height, PM Oli informed the press conference organized at the VVIP Lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport upon his return today.

A fruitful discussion was held with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on forwarding regional and multi-sectoral cooperation and collaboration in addition to bilateral trade, investment, and developments of agriculture, tourism, culture, education and human resource development, according to him. The two countries, where the Buddhist religion and philosophy are common, agreed to strengthen diplomatic relations by expanding economic and cultural activities.

According to him, Nepal secured the commitment of the Thai government’s support for Nepal’s national ambition of ‘Prosperous Nepal-Happy Nepali.’ For it to realize, Thailand was ready to extend support in the sectors of agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and IT.

Also shared by the PM in the news conference was the agreement made between the two countries to collaborate in the international and regional forums on common concerns like climate change, world peace and sustainable development.

A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries in exchange for support on cultural and tourism fronts.

PM Oli also invited Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra to Nepal visit and expected her visit soon.

During his address to the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, PM Oli shed light on various pressing issues of regional and global concerns like economic inequality, rising economic risk and political uncertainty. To resolve the problems, the PM underlined the need for regional cooperation. The slogan of the BIMSTEC summit reflected Nepal’s national ambition of ‘Prosperous Nepal-Happy Nepali’, the PM shared.

PM Oli further shared that he also invited the BIMSTEC member countries’ Heads for the participation in first edition of Sagarmatha Sambaad going to be organized by Nepal in order to hold a discussion on the environment and other regional and international challenges.

In his address to the Summit, he mentioned that climate change has posed an existential threat to entire humanity.

During the Thailand visit, PM Oli expressed condolences on behalf of the government of Nepal, the Nepali People and his own over the huge loss of lives and properties in the earthquake that occurred in Myanmar and Thailand, and wished speedy recovery to the injured ones.

He viewed that the Bangkok Declaration incorporated the issues—of implementing BIMSTEC Vision 2030 for the development, prosperity and sustainability of the BIMSTEC region, utilizing opportunities of economic growth regionally.

Earlier to the Summit, the BIMSTEC ministry-level meeting laid emphasis on the need to approve an action plan related to human resources development, public health, education, science and technology and climate change and bring it into implementation at the earliest, he clarified.

During the meeting with Nepali and Thai entrepreneurs in the course of the visit, PM Oli urged them the invest in Nepal, saying the government was committed to making foreign investment easy, safe and result-oriented.

In the press conference, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai read the press note on behalf of PM Oli.

PM Oli held meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Oli, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay and Prime Minister of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing during the BIMSTEC Summit.

Leading a Nepali delegation, PM Oli left for Thailand on April 1 for the official visit at the friendly invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and to attend the sixth BIMSTEC Summit.

We will deepen Nepal-India relations: PM Oli

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed determination to further deepen Nepal-India relations. PM Oli shared it at a news conference organized today at VVIP Longue of Tribhuvan International Airport upon his home arrival after completing the official visit to Thailand.

PM Oli expressed such determination during a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in Thailand, where the duo attended the 6th Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

The meeting with his Indian counterpart was very fruitful and he was happy about it, the PM shared. “This time, we have made an understanding to hold dialogue on any problems surfaced between the two countries and settle these”, the PM said.

Responding to media queries, PM Oli argued, “This meeting was fruitful and I am very happy. I have learned from the conversation with Indian PM Narendra Modi that he is also happy.”

The PM mentioned that the meeting he had with the Indian counterpart dwelt on collaboration on different fronts of mutual cooperation. “We discussed the matters related to bilateral mutual welfare, including the areas of investment and trade, multi-purpose Pancheshwor Project and irrigation facility in Dodhara Chandani from the Mahakali River”, he added.

Sharing that the Indian PM would not be able to attend the Sagarmatha Sambaad in Nepal as his programme for Europe was already scheduled, PM Oli reminded, adding that there would be participation of high-level representatives from India in the programme.

On a different note, the Head of the Government stated that the government would address the issues raised by the agitating teachers taking them positively. He assured of settling teachers’ concerns by holding dialogue with them.

He also informed that the government had been carrying outan investigation in an impartial manner in relation to the Tinkune incident that occurred on March 28. (RSS)