Nepal, Switzerland review bilateral ties at fifth BCM meet in Kathmandu
KATHMANDU: The Fifth Meeting of Nepal‑Switzerland Bilateral Consultation Mechanism concluded in Kathmandu on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, with officials from both countries reviewing the overall state of bilateral relations.
The meeting, which coincided with celebrations marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Switzerland, reaffirmed the two sides’ commitment to deepen cooperation and strengthen long‑standing ties, the ministry added.
The Nepali delegation briefed the Swiss side on recent political and economic developments, highlighting the new government’s priorities: good governance, anti‑corruption measures, transparency, digital transformation and more efficient public service delivery. Officials identified growth in hydropower generation and transmission, tourism and information technology as key economic goals.
Nepal expressed gratitude for Swiss support across a range of sectors, including federalism, trail bridge construction, migration governance, community forestry, technical and vocational education and disaster resilience, and requested that Switzerland scale up cooperation in line with Kathmandu’s priorities.
Both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, with climate change and cooperation in multilateral forums featuring on the agenda.
The meeting was co‑chaired by Joint Secretary and Head of the Europe Division of the Ministry, Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, and Markus Leitner, Head of the Asia and Pacific Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. The Swiss delegation included Ambassador to Nepal Dr Danielle Meuwly and officials from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
The memorandum of understanding establishing the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and Switzerland was signed on November 4, 2015.
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