Kathmandu: US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Finance Minister (FM) Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat
In the meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs today, the two discussed various matters relating to Nepal-US bilateral relations and the exchange of cooperation, according to Kamal Giri, press coordinator of DPM Shrestha.
On the occasion, the Minister said that the incumbent government focused on completing the remaining task of the peace process as per the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, and sought support from Nepal’s friendly international donors towards this.
Shrestha informed the US envoy Thompson that the related Bill was already presented in the parliament to ensure transitional justice.
Ambassador Thompson said that the US wanted to see the completion of the remaining task of the peace process in Nepal and pledged to take the lead to facilitate with diplomatic stakeholders for the same.
To the concern expressed by the American envoy on the prospects of political instability affecting the development works, DPM Shrestha assured that it would not affect the development endeavors, stating that Nepal was still in the process of institutionalizing the federal democratic republic system.
Furthermore, Thompson said that the US government would provide full support in strengthening democracy in Nepal.
Since the Peace Corps’ works were affected after the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Thompson requested with DPM Shrestha on easing off the issuance of visa for Peace Corp volunteers to which the latter committed to facilitating in the matter in coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thompson also expressed concerns surrounding American investment in Nepal and security of the American working in Nepal to which DPM Shrestha assured of full security for that.
Likewise, During the meeting held at the Finance Ministry, two discussed matters relating to various aspects of bilateral relations and further widening the scope of cooperation between the two countries were discussed.
The US is interested to increase grants in Nepal through Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and ready to invest in new projects, Minister Mahat said. “US support to Nepal’s economic development is significant. It wants Nepal to identify areas for more investment for economic prosperity.”
