Kathmandu, November 16

The fourth meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and the United Kingdom was held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London yesterday.

Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the British Diplomatic Service Sir Simon McDonald KCMG KCVO led their respective delegations to the meeting.

According to Embassy of Nepal in London, both sides took stock of the existing Nepal-UK bilateral cooperation and deliberated on the ways to further consolidate and promote mutual cooperation in future. They agreed to enhance bilateral relations with an increased focus on economic engagements, especially in the areas of trade, investment and tourism, among others. Exchange of high-level visits, cooperation on education and culture, air safety and people-to-people contacts also featured during the discussion.

They also shared views on finding solution to the concerns of the Gurkha veterans. The two sides also agreed to work collaboratively at the regional and multilateral levels in order to promote rules-based international system and matters of mutual interests. Following the BCM meeting, Bairagi held a meeting with the Mark Field, minister of state for Asia and the Pacific, at the latter’s office and discussed wide ranging matters pertaining to long-standing partnership between the two countries.

Yesterday evening, Bairagi held a meeting with Mark Lancaster, minister of state for the Armed Forces, at the Lancaster house, in London. The two sides discussed issues related to Gurkha veterans.