KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Chandra Prakash Mainali, held a bilateral meeting with Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General, in New York on Wednesday.

On the occasion, DPM Mainali thanked the Secretary General for his leadership at the global body well as for his love, regards and cooperation to Nepal and the Nepali people. Mainali also expressed his gratitude for the UN chief's support to the political process and development in Nepal, including in the most recent difficult times.

He highlighted democratic and inclusive characters of the new Constitution of Nepal and the continuing efforts of the government to find durable solutions to remaining issues through dialogues among the stakeholders and governmental initiative to build a high-level political committee, according to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations.

Earlier, welcoming the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary General thanked him for leading the Nepali delegation to the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

He underscored the significance of the CSW session towards realising gender equality and empowerment of women. Secretary General Ban further said that gender equality was an issue beyond politics and nobody could dispute about it.

The Secretary-General further said that the United Nations was closely following Nepal's efforts for development, adding that he was going to dispatch a delegation under the leadership of Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson to Nepal in the near future.

The Secretary General also asked for ensuring Nepal’s participation in the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May 2016.

During the meeting, DPM Mainali also handed over an invitation on behalf of the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to Secretary General Ban inviting him to visit Nepal to attend the 2560th Buddha Jayanti celebrations in Lumbini in May 2016.

The Secretary General expressed his thankfulness to Prime Minister Oli for the invitation.

Meanwhile, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ananda Prasad Pokharel informed the Secretary General on the preparations being made for the celebrations.

He said that Nepali people as well as all peace lovers and Buddhist organisations from around the world would be eagerly looking forward to warmly welcome the Secretary General on the occasion.

Deputy Prime Minister Mainali was accompanied by Minister Pokharel, and former Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Neelam KC Khadka.