Kathmandu, January 9 Nepal and France today held bilateral consultations in Kathmandu in which the two sides discussed bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. The Nepali delegates to the talks were led by Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, while visiting Secretary-General of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs Maurice Gourdault-Montagne led the French side. Gourdault-Montagne is on an official visit to Kathmandu from January 9 to 10 at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Bairagi. During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on common values shared by both countries in their foreign policies and actions, as well as their preference for multilateralism and the rules-based international order. They also emphasised the need to look ahead and to address common global challenges, including social inequality, climate change, threat to multilateralism and developmental issues such as trade, investment, tourism, access to digitalisation and environment, among others. A special commemorative logo designed by Aayush Kunwar, a student of Ecole Victor Hugo Manjushree Vidyapith, was also unveiled during the press briefing. Later in the day, Gourdault-Montagne paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali. Gourdault-Montagne’s Nepal visit is part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and France. READ ALSO:

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