Senior UK officials arrive Nepal to commemorate bicentenary Nepal-Britain diplomatic relations

Jun 7, 2016.
The United Kingdom (UK) Foreign & Commonwealth Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Simon McDonald and the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID) Permanent Secretary Mark Low cock arrived in Nepal for an official visit on Tuesday to celebrate bicentenary of Britain Nepal diplomatic relations.

The British delegates arrived at Kathmandu as a part of celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and UK. During their visit Sir McDonald and Low cock will call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli , Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel to discuss bilateral and international issues.

They will also meet with a wide range of people from business and politics to discuss the current political situation, human rights, the economic and humanitarian challenges facing Nepal and ways the UK can help Nepal improve its business environment and boost bilateral trade and investment, and future development partnerships.

Likewise, the UK delegates will also visit the UKaid funded Humanitarian Staging Area at Tribhuvan International Airport and the UKaid funded Red Cross earthquake preparedness programme to learn more about DFID Nepal’s work on disaster preparedness. A press statement issued by the British Embassy on Tuesday read, “Reconstruction is a high development priority and the UK stands ready to support the Government of Nepal’s leadership in rebuilding Nepal.”

DFID Nepal has had a £65 Business Case approved by the Ministry of Finance for a UKaid programme to support earthquake recovery. This is Mark Low cock’s fourth visit to Nepal, he was last here in 1993 as part of delegation accompanying the late Princess Diana. This is Simon McDonald’s first visit to Nepal.