UK parliamentarians meet Speaker Mahara

KATHMANDU: A visiting delegation of British lawmakers has paid courtesy call on Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara today.

The delegation was led by Nigel Evans, MP and a member of the British Group of Inter-parliamentary Union (BGIPU).

During the meeting, Speaker Mahara said that Nepal-Britain relation was not only at a political level but it has also expanded at people's level.

"The people-to-people ties between Nepal and Britain has deepened the friendship between the two countries and also made it closer," he said.

Stating that federal system of governance has started in Nepal with the promulgation of the new constitution, he said the British parliamentary process, practices and experience would be learning for Nepal.

"We have been practising federalism. At present we have been operating three levels of governments comprising the local, provincial and federal. Since the parliamentary system of Britain and Nepal are similar, we want to learn from from the British experience," Speaker Mahara said.

Noting that the UK government has been providing support to Nepal in the education, health, physical infrastructure sectors, he said this has consolidated the bilateral ties and the relations at the people's level also.

Delegation leader Evans described the relations between the two countries as very close and cordial, saying Nepal is a beautiful country in terms of tourism and many Britons come to visit Nepal every year.

Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamfe, Secretary General of the Federal Parliament Manohar Prasad Bhattarai, Secretary at the Parliament Secretariat Gopal Nath Yogi and spokesman Bharat Raj Gautam, among other officials were present on the occasion.

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