‘PM Oli’s visits to Vietnam and Cambodia will be fruitful’

KATHMANDU, May 7: Diplomatic relations and foreign affairs experts have opined that the upcoming official visit of the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Kingdom of Cambodia will be fruitful to enhance bilateral relations between the countries.

PM Oli is scheduled to pay official visits to Vietnam from May 9-13 at the invitation of his counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc and to Cambodia from May 13-15 at the invitation of his counterpart Samdeh Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

Foreign Affairs advisor to PM, Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, one of the delegation members of PM’s visit,  argued that the visits will be fruitful to strengthen the bilateral relations and to search for new areas for bilateral cooperation as well.

The members in the delegation of the Prime Minister include Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal and Rajan Bhattarai, Members of the Parliament, high-ranking government officials, elected representatives from local bodies as well as representatives of private sector and media persons, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Prime Minister will also be accompanied by his spouse, Radhika Shakya.

During his visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Oli will address the International Day of Vesak in Ha Nam Province in Viet Nam. Vietnam is observing the Vesak Day from this year after the United National proclaimed it. The event will see the participation of high-level dignitaries as well as Buddhists monks and nuns from various countries, including Nepal.

He will also address the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Nepal-Viet Nam Business Forum in Ha Noi. The two countries will sign some agreements and memorandum of understandings to further promote bilateral relations.

“The visit will further be beneficial to attract Buddhist tourists in Nepal as the visit is scheduled during the Buddha Purnima, a great Buddhist festival,” he said while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Tuesday.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold delegation level bilateral talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Phuc. He will also meet with the President of the National Assembly. The Prime Minister of Viet Nam will host an official dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of Nepal and his delegation.

Bhattarai further said Nepal will explore the possibilities of bilateral trade with Cambodia.

During the visit to Cambodia, the Prime Minister will hold delegation level bilateral talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen. Following the official talks, the Cambodian Prime Minister will host an official dinner in honor of the Prime Minister and his delegation. Prime Minister Oli will also meet with the President of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate. He will address the business meeting in Phnom Penh.

Similarly, speaking on the occasion, former ambassador Dr. Shambhuram Simkhada said that the visit would be meaningful to extend cultural diplomacy with the countries. He also opined for taking benefits from these countries as they were achieving high economic growth.

Stating that Prime Minister Oli taking part in Vesak Day and addressing the event on the occasion of Buddha Purnima was a positive thing, he pressed for consensus from all on Nepal’s foreign policy before Oli leaves for Vietnam.

Former Ambassador Hiranya Lal Shrestha expressed his confidence that PM Oli’s visit to Viet Nam will be fruitful as both countries share historical and age-old ties.

According to him, the event would be a ‘milestone’ to promote global Buddhism and Lumbini internationally as Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to address the ceremony as a keynote speaker.

Saying that Vietnam has made significant progress in waterway and railway, foreign policy expert Shrestha opined that our Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam will help both countries open the door to new opportunities.

Prime Minister Oli and the delegation will return home on 15 May.