London: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UK held a roundtable discussion with Nepali community based in London on Monday. The discussion was organized by the Nepal desk of Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with the representatives of Nepali community. Nicola Polliitt, the UK ambassador to Nepal and the officials of FCDO’s Nepal desk participated in the program organized at the Ministry at Westminster. On behalf of Nepali Community, intellectuals, business people and representatives of Nepali origin participated in the program.
Addressing the program, UK ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Pollitt highlighted the priorities of the embassy in Nepal.
According to the ambassador, matters related to diplomatic relations between the two countries, promotion of bilateral trade and investment, common initiatives to combat climate change impacts, Nepal’s health and education, security, women empowerment and capacity building of the Nepali community were among the issues discussed in the roundtable. She informed that the UK’s assistance will be focused on these issues.
The ambassador informed that the UK is making its role in Nepal multidimensional and aims to reach out to the people. It is for this purpose that the advice of the Nepali community in London was sought through the roundtable, she said.
The representatives of Nepali community advised the British envoy to make the visit of the incumbent British PM to Nepal possible to take Nepal-UK ties to further height, to remove the obstacles in bilateral trade and investment between the two countries and to facilitate visas for the ex-Gorkhas. According to the Nepali representatives, they raised pension issues of ex-Gurkhas, the practical problems faced by British of Nepali origin in establishing links with their motherland (Nepal) and drew the attention of the envoy to help address those problems.
Professor at University College London Dr Tejendra Pherali, councilors Bishnu Bahadur Gurung, Laxya Bahadur Gurung, and Jit Ranabhat, campaigner Professional Development Nepal Astha Poudel, President of Federation of Nepali Journalist (UK) Dhrubaraj Aryal and General Secretary Narendra Basnet participated in the program.
Likewise, youth activist Prashant Kunwar, senior journalist Bhagirath Yogi and blogger Lext Limbu participated virtually.
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