KATHMANDU: Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Wednesday.

During the meeting held at Foreign Ministry, issues of bilateral assistance and mutual interest were discussed.

DPM Mahara mentioned that the technical assistance IAEA provided to BP Koirala Cancer Hospital was significant adding that Nepal was mulling over policy management issues related to nuclear energy.

He also expressed happiness over the use of nuclear energy for peace and development.

In response, Director General Amano said the IAEA has forwarded a new covenant on nuclear defense, so range of assistance could be widened. He agreed that IAEA focused on peace and development.