काठमाडौं। नेपाल र फ्रान्सबीच परराष्ट्रमन्त्री स्तरीय संयन्त्र गठन गर्ने समझादारी भएको छ। शुक्रबार काठमाडौंमा संयन्त्र गठन गर्ने समझादारी पत्रमा हस्ताक्षर भएको परराष्ट्रमन्त्रालयले जानकारी दिएको छ।

समझादारी पत्र (एमओयू)मा नेपालका तर्फबाट परराष्ट्रमन्त्रालयका सहसचिब निर्मल राज काफ्ले र नेपालका लागि फ्रेन्च राजदूत फ्राँस्वा जेभियर लेगरले शुक्रबार हस्ताक्षर गरेका छन्। यो समझादारीमा हस्ताक्षर हुँदा परराष्ट्रमन्त्री प्रदीपकुमार ज्ञवाली र नेपाल भ्रमणमा रहेका फ्रेन्च प्रतिनिधिमण्डलका नेता फ्रान्सको विदेश मन्त्रालयका एशिया, ओसियना यूरोप हेर्ने निर्देशक थेरी म्याथु उपस्थित थिए।

फ्रान्सेली प्रतिनिधिमण्डल नेपाली प्रतिनिधिमण्डलबीच द्विपक्षीय हितका विभिन्न विषयमा छलफलसमेत भएको बताइएको छ। छलफलमा दुई पक्षीय हित र साझा मुद्दामा कुराकानी भएको परराष्ट्रमन्त्रालयले जनाएको छ। व्यापार, पर्यटन र जलवायु परिवर्तनका मुद्दामा पनि छलफल भएको थियो। यस्तै नेपाल सरकारले आगामी वर्ष मनाउन लागेको भ्रमण वर्ष २०२०का विषयमा पनि छलफल भएको थियो। यस्तै क्षेत्रीय र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मुद्दामा पनि नेपाल र फ्रान्सको अडानमा एकरुपता हुनुपर्नेमा दुबै पक्ष सहमत भएका थिए। यस्तै जलवायु परिवर्तन र शान्ति स्थापनाका विषयमा पनि कुरा भएको छ।

नेपाली पक्षले सगरमाथा संवादमा फ्रान्सको अर्थपूर्ण सहभागीता हुने अपेक्षासमेत राखेको थियो। फ्रान्सले पनि जलवायु परिवर्तन शान्ति स्थापना दुबै देशको साझा मुद्दा भएकोले सगरमाथा संवादले जलवायु परिवर्तनले पर्वतीय मुलुकमा परेका असरबारे अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय जगतलाई एक सन्देश दिने बताएको थियो।

Press Release

Nepal and France hold the first meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism

With a view to reviewing the bilateral relations and sharing views on regional and international issues of common interest on a regular basis, the Governments of Nepal and France have established a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism at the foreign ministry level. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to this effect was signed in Kathmandu this morning.

Mr. Nirmal Raj Kafle, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Francois Xavier Leger, Ambassador of France to Nepal, signed the MOU on behalf of their respective governments. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Nepali and French delegates to the first meeting of the Mechanism.

Foreign Secretary Mr. Shanker Das Bairagi and H.E. Thierry Mathou, Director for Asia and Oceania of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, led their respective delegations to the meeting. During the meeting, the two sides took stock of all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on further promoting cooperation between the two countries. Views were also shared on the importance of continuing the exchange of high level visits, in the context of the successful visit of the Rt. Hon. K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, to France in June this year.

The two sides discussed the various ways and means of enhancing economic partnership, including in the areas of trade, tourism and investment, and promoting people-to-people contacts. Nepal requested the French side to encourage its private sector to explore opportunities in the Nepali market given the political stability, policy and institutional reforms and a business-friendly environment created in the country. The French side stressed on the need to enhance Nepal’s competitive edge, including through branding its organic products. It also agreed to provide cooperation towards making the Visit Nepal Year 2020 a success.

Matters of regional and international importance were also discussed during the meeting. The two ministries agreed to further engage in several issues of common interest such as Climate Change and the UN Peacekeeping. With regard to the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad, France will positively consider its meaningful participation in this international dialogue dedicated to important issues of Climate Change and its effects on mountains.

The French delegation also comprised H.E. Francois Xavier Leger, Ambassador of France to Nepal and Mr. Arnaud Champy, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the French Embassy. The Nepali delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Finance and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Prior to the meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, Director Mathou paid a courtesy call on Minister Gyawali at the latter’s office. During the meeting, various matters of mutual interest were discussed. The two sides also shared their views on the contributions made by the visit of Prime Minister Oli to the Nepal-France partnership and cooperation as well as on the priorities ahead to keep the momentum.

13 December 2019

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kathmandu