KATHMANDU, April 21: The government is fully informed and aware of the Nepalis stranded abroad and will start the process of bringing them back home once the pandemic situation turns favorable, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali.

In a video conference with the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) presidents of 11 countries that are worst hit by COVID-19 pandemic, he informed the Nepali community abroad, through the NRNA presidents, that it was not immediately possible to rescue and bring home the Nepalis stranded abroad as the lockdown period has been extending in Nepal.

“The government is fully aware and informed of the Nepalis stranded abroad. we will start the process of returning them to Nepal once the situation becomes favorable,” Foreign Affairs Minister Gyawali said, adding, “the government is positive regarding promptly addressing the problems of the Nepali migrant workers, mainly in the Gulf region.”

He asserted that the government will seek a solution to the issue through consultations with the diplomatic missions and NRNA, urging the non-resident Nepalis in those countries to have patience.

The Minister lauded the role played by the Nepalis in difficult circumstances and thanked the NRNA for its active role in activities like spreading public awareness against COVID-19 and distributing relief to the needy Nepalis abroad in the present adverse situation. He also informed that the government has been holding discussions with countries affected by coronavirus and that the Nepali embassies have been activated to work together with NRNA in countries where Nepal does not have its diplomatic missions.

In the meeting, NRNA International Committee President, Kumar Panta, said the government has adopted effective steps towards prevention of coronavirus pandemic. He also lauded the decision of the government to enforce a lockdown across the country.

“NRNA is ready to work together with the government in terms of the relief programs directed at the Nepalis on foreign employment who have been affected by COVID-19,” he added.

The NRNA presidents voiced the problems faced by students, ex-British Gurkhas soldiers and the Nepali migrant workers abroad. They also talked about distribution of relief and health safety equipment to them as well as the management of those Nepalis who want to return home immediately. They also suggested the government to formulate short-term and long-term economic policy as the country could reel under economic recession due to the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The NRNA presidents from the United Kingdom, Germany, America, Italy, Spain, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, France, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, among other countries, participated in the video conference. High officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present on the occasion. RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 17: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali has left for Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on Monday on a three-day official visit at the invitation of his counterpart Dr A K Abdul Momen.

During the visit, Minister Gyawali will hold delegation level talks with Momen. The two Foreign Ministers will review the overall aspects of the bilateral relations and exchange views on various matters of mutual interest, such as energy, trade, transit, connectivity, tourism, and cooperation on regional and multilateral issues.

Gyawali is accompanied by the Foreign Secretary and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

He will return to Kathmandu on Feb 19.

KATHMANDU, Oct 21: State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi is visiting Nepal in near future, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.

“Aung San Suu Kyi has expressed her will to come to Nepal to promote the Visit Nepal Year 2020,” Minister Gyawali, who was part of the delegation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s five-day state visit to Myanmar, told reporters upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday.

Wrapping-up the visit, President Bhandari, at the invitation the Government of Japan, directly flew to Tokyo to attend the ceremony of the Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito.

“We have already started making necessary arrangements for Suu Kyi’s visit,” he added.

However, Gyawali did not reveal the date of Suu Kyi’s Nepal visit.

KATHMANDU, Sept 9: The two foreign ministers of Nepal and China met at the Yak and Yeti Hotel in Durbarmarg today. Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met for over an hour where China’s President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal was discussed.

(Delegates from Nepal-China meeting at Yak and Yeti Hotel) 

Along with the Chinese premiers visit other developmental aspects of Nepal China relations were also brought to the table. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and various other investments that are made by China in various developmental projects in Nepal.

Minister Gyawali proposed various initiatives like the Rasuwagadi-Kathmandu roadway, Galchhi-Rasuwagadi-Kerung electricity transmission line, and railway network between Kathmandu-Kerung were also discussed during the meeting.

During this meeting project, details regarding various areas of cooperation will be submitted according to internal sources at the foreign ministry. This meeting will be followed by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the presence of the foreign ministers and dignitaries.

( China Foreign Minister Wang Yi) 

His Excellency Wang Yi is on a three-day official visit to Kathmandu, he has also visited a major attraction site in the outer valley in Chandragiri Hills later in the day.

(Photos provided by Mukunda Kalikote / Reporters Club Nepal)