KATHMANDU, APRIL 1
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has left for Thailand on an official visit from April 1 to 5 at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, senior government officials, and security chiefs bid farewell to the Prime Minister at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport. Before departure, a Nepali Army contingent presented a guard of honor in his honor.
This marks the first-ever official visit by a Nepali Prime Minister to Thailand, despite long-standing friendly relations between the two nations. During the visit, PM Oli is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart, focusing on enhancing diplomatic and economic ties.
Following these engagements, PM Oli will lead Nepal's 21-member delegation at the Sixth Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on April 4. He will also address the Summit the same day. On April 3, he is set to attend a state dinner in honor of the participating heads of state and government.
On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Oli is expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of BIMSTEC member states. The visit holds significance as Nepal and Thailand have shared diplomatic ties for decades, yet a Nepali Head of Government has never officially visited Thailand. The last Thai Prime Minister to visit Nepal was Prem Tinsulanonda in 1983.
PM Oli's delegation includes his spouse Radhika Shakya, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Chief Political Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Chief Secretary Eak Narayan Aryal, former Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, high-ranking officials, as well as representatives from the private sector and media.
The Nepali Cabinet endorsed the official visit schedule on March 24, and the Prime Minister is expected to return home on April 5.
