PM, FM report overseas trips to parliamentary committee
KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has informed the Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Tourism about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent foreign visits, high-level meetings, agreements, and other contemporary diplomatic matters.
In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives’ International Relations and Tourism Committee, the minister highlighted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates guided by the Constitution, foreign policy, Nepal’s international relations, and the principles and objectives directing foreign policy implementation.
Minister Rana stated, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to safeguarding Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence, and the protection of Nepali citizens’ rights and interests, thereby promoting the overall national interest.”
She provided details on the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Thailand, Nepal’s participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, and the bilateral talks, dialogues, and agreements that took place on that occasion.
Furthermore, Minister Rana briefed the committee on significant visits from abroad to Nepal, bilateral and multilateral relations, meetings, agreements, administrative and other activities conducted by the Ministry, as well as matters concerning the diaspora, protection of migrant workers’ rights, and improvements in service delivery.
She also informed about the Prime Minister’s virtual address at the 4th International High-Level Conference on Financing for Development, and Nepal’s participation in the 81st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific region.
Minister Rana detailed her participation in the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, the Raisina Dialogue, the 8th Indian Ocean Conference, her official visits to Oman and Japan, and the successful organization of the Sagarmatha Dialogue, including discussions and issues raised on those occasions.
Between mid-December and the end of March, a total of 457,168 passports were issued by the Department of Passport. During this period, additional mobile teams were deployed in Romania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, and Japan to provide passport services.
The Consular Service Department certified 248,567 documents during the same timeframe. Regular efforts continue to assist Nepali citizens stranded, facing difficulties, missing, deceased abroad, and compensation-related matters, Minister Rana added.
Earlier, committee members including Prabhu Sah, Shishir Khanal, Bhim Prasad Acharya, Sunita Baral, Prem Suwal, and Gangaram Chaudhary requested detailed information on the direct benefits Nepal gained from high-level visits and the Sagarmatha Dialogue.
They suggested simplifying services provided by the Ministry’s affiliated agencies, maintaining a balanced foreign policy especially with neighboring countries, and establishing effective monitoring mechanisms for the performance of staff posted at foreign missions.
Committee Chair Rajkishor Yadav recommended that in the fluid environment of foreign diplomacy, the committee should be provided with prior information on high-level visits and be involved in gathering necessary suggestions.
