Kathmandu, May 20

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa is leaving for Istanbul, Turkey tomorrow to participate in the World Humanitarian Summit.

The summit being convened by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will take place from May 23 to 24.

Chief Executive Officer of National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyawali and Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi are also accompanying DPM Thapa, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The summit aims to re-inspire and reinvigorate a commitment to humanity, initiate a set of concrete actions and commitments as well as share best practices, which can help save lives around the world, the ministry said in a statement.

After attending the first ever humanitarian summit, Thapa will pay an official visit to Israel from May 24 to 26.

He is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as other leaders.

Thapa will also lead the Nepali delegation to the comprehensive high-level midterm review of the Istanbul Programme of Action being held in Antalya of Turkey from May 27 to 29.

The IPOA aims to enable half the number of least developed countries to meet the criteria for graduation from the LDC category by 2020. DPM Thapa will return home on 30 May.