Kathmandu

Switzerland opens embassy

Switzerland opens embassy

By Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: The Swiss embassy in Nepal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in Ekantakuna today after 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries. On the occasion, the PM emphasised the need for international community’s support for the social and economic transformation of Nepal. He also sought Swiss investment in hydropower and infrastructure. PM Nepal further said that the government was committed to draft the constitution ing the stipulated time and to take the peace process to a logical end. Newly appointed Swiss ambassador to Nepal, Thomas Gass, said that Switzerland would continue its support to Nepal. He said that prevailing peace and institutionalising democracy were the two major challenges of the nation. “We fully back Nepal to successfully end the peace process by implementing the comprehensive peace agreement,” he said. Minister for foreign affairs Sujata Koirala, chairperson of the CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal, vice-president of the UCPN-Maoist Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai and heads of diplomatic missions in Nepal were present during the opening ceremony of the embassy. Addressing the ceremony, Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Martin Dahinden said that the opening of the Swiss embassy would confirm the commitment of the Swiss Government to Nepal.