KHATMANDU – Pakistan and Nepal have agreed to enhance cooperation inpolitical, economic, defence and cultural fields.
This understanding reached during a meeting between Prime Minister ShahidKhaqan Abbasi and his Napalese counterpart Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli inKathmandu today.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi felicitated Prime Minister of Nepal on the successfulconclusion of the democratic process, resulting in the formation of a newgovernment.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also congratulated Mr. Khadga PrasadSharma Oli on his election as new Prime Minister of Nepal.
Talking to Secretary General of SAARC Amjad Hussain B. Sial in Kathmandu,Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan said South Asian Association for RegionalCooperation (SAARC) requires serious and sincere efforts by the membercountries to explore its real potential.
He said Pakistan is committed to play a constructive role in SAARC.
He emphasized that SAARC believes in sovereignty of its member nations andis beneficial in making way forward for peace, stability and progress inthe region. Amjad Hussain updated the Prime Minister on the recentactivities of SAARC.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi arrived in Nepal on two dayvisit.
He was received by Nepalese Minister for Finance Yuba Raj Khatiwada uponarrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.
Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli greeted Prime MinisterShahid Khaqan Abbasi at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel in Kathmandu .
National anthems of the two countries were played and Prime Minister ShahidKhaqan Abbasi was presented a Guard of Honour at the welcome reception. Duringhis visit, the Prime Minister will also call on the President of Nepal HerExcellency Bidya Devi Bhandari. Prime Minister’s visit will provide anopportunity to further expand and strengthen bilateral relations across allareas of mutual interest including trade, education, tourism, defence andpeople to people contacts.
Ways of invigorating SAARC as an important regional organization will alsobe discussed. Nepal is an important regional country and Pakistan`s tieswith Nepal are characterized by cordiality, mutual respect and commonalityof interests. The two countries also support each other at bilateral andmultilateral fora.