KATHMANDU, JUNE 22
The fifth meeting of the Nepal-France Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) was held in Kathmandu on June 19, as part of the regular diplomatic dialogue between the two countries.
The Nepali delegation was led by Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary and Head of the Europe and the Americas Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and included representatives from various ministries. The French delegation was headed by Benoît Guidée, Director for Asia and Oceania at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The delegation also included French Ambassador to Nepal, Virginie Corteval; Deputy Chief of Mission, Elsa Calley; and desk officer, Hélène Schinkel.
The meeting provided an opportunity to review ongoing cooperation and explore new areas of engagement, particularly in the context of the 75th anniversary of the first ascent of Annapurna by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal.
Discussions covered a broad range of topics including economic partnership, science and technology, education, culture, and climate action. Both sides expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in existing and emerging sectors such as renewable energy and disaster risk reduction through early warning systems.
Regional and global issues were also discussed, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism.
The sixth meeting of the BCM is scheduled to be held in Paris at a mutually convenient date.
