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.