Kathmandu, May 19

Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat today said Nepal had failed to reap benefits from the progress of neighbouring countries.

Addressing an interaction programme at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mahat claimed that the incumbent government was serious about how Nepal could reap the benefits of rapid growth and development in India and China.

He said the country should take advantage of its neighbours’ progress in areas of road connectivity, trade promotion and foreign investment.

The foreign minister hoped that the signing of the China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative — also known as One Belt One Road Initiative—would be beneficial for Nepal’s economic progress.

Nepal had signed a deal with China to become a signatory to the BRI last week, which according to Minister Mahat, was done in the best interests of the country.

Minister Mahat also claimed that relations with the neighbouring countries have improved after he assumed the office of foreign minister in August last year.

He said the government had formed a high-level mechanism to recommend restructuring of the Institute of Foreign Affairs.

A task force led by former ambassador Dinesh Bhattarai had submitted its report yesterday suggesting to provide more human, technological and financial resources to the IFA so as to make the think tank capable of producing capable diplomats.