Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud who is on an official visit to the United States of America, met with officials of various US agencies. He had a meeting with Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power on Tuesday. On the occasion, Administrator Power expressed the US government’s commitment to support Nepal towards advancing progress in democratic process and building strong relations. At the meeting held at USAID headquarters, Saud extended gratefulness to the USAID for its longstanding support to Nepal’s efforts for economic and social development. On the occasion, they also discussed the close partnership and relations between Nepal and the US spanning over the past 75 years.
The development agreement amounting to 659 million US Dollars was signed between the government of Nepal and USAID on 5 May 2022 for five years.
Likewise, Saud also held a meeting with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the US International Development Finance Corporation, Scott Nathan on Tuesday. On the occasion, Saud urged CEO Nathan for increasing investment flow to Nepal through the Corporation.
Also on Tuesday, Saud participated in a talk program entitled ‘Nepal’s Foreign Policy Outlook’ hosted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, where he spoke about Nepal’s foreign policy orientation, emphasizing its commitment to an independent foreign policy based on the Charter of the United Nations, non-alignment, and principles of Panchasheel, according to the statement issued by Embassy of Nepal in Washington.
During his address, Minister Saud stated, “Our conduct of external relations is based on a balanced and independent outlook, which is rooted in the historical fact that we were among the few countries that always remained independent, free from any sort of colonial rule.” The Minister further highlighted Nepal’s political transformation of historic proportions stating, “We ended armed conflict in the country by establishing a home-grown peace process tailored to our requirements.”
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