Kathmandu, October 29
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in Nepal on his four-day official visit.
Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud welcomed the UN Secretary-General at the VVIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. Also present on the occasion were high-ranking officials from the Government of Nepal and representatives of the UN Office in Nepal, among others. The Nepal Army extended a guard of honour to Secretary-General Guterres.
Guterres’ visit to Nepal occurred upon the invitation of the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
On Sunday, Secretary-General Guterres is set to make a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the Office of the President, as well as meet with PM Dahal at the Prime Minister’s office, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Secretary-General will have separate meetings with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli at the New Baneshwor-based Federal Parliament Building.
Likewise, Antonio Guterres is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minister duo, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
After the meetings, he will visit the Patan Durbar Square, a heritage site of significant historical and archaeological importance.
Prime Minister Dahal will host a banquet reception on Sunday evening in honour of Secretary-General Guterres. During his visit, the Secretary-General will travel to Namche Bazar, Pokhara, Annapurna Base Camp, and Lumbini on Monday.
As per the Parliament Secretariat, he is slated to address the joint session of the federal parliament at 4 pm on Tuesday.
Antonio Guterres, who is set to make his first visit to Nepal since assuming the position of UN Secretary-General in 2017, will engage in discussions pertaining to the peace process, sustainable development, and climate crisis, as conveyed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The high-level visit of the UN Secretary-General, occurring after a gap of approximately 15 years, is being accorded significant importance.
