KATHMANDU: Nepal and the Sultanate of Oman have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a bilateral consultation mechanism between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

The MoU was signed at Muscat, the capital of Oman today on the occasion of the official visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to the Gulf country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara witnessed the signing ceremony.

Ambassador of Nepal to Oman Sharmila Parajuli Dhakal and Head of West Asia Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman, Shiekh Hilah Marhoon Al-Mammari signed the MoU on behalf of the respective governments.

As Nepal and the Sultanate of Oman have been marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations this year, the conclusion of the MoU reflects the determination of the two governments to enhance and activate different fields of cooperation, particularly on economic, cultural, technological, scientific and educational relations, the Embassy of Nepal in Muscat stated in a press release today.

The MoU provides that bilateral meetings will be organised on annual basis or as deemed necessary, alternately in Muscatand in Kathmandu. The MoU comes into force from the date of its signature for a period of five years and is automatically renewable for similar periods.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Deuba and members of his delegation are returning to Kathmandu on Thursday upon successfully completing the 3-day official visit to the Sultanate of Oman.