Nepal, Canada hold fourth BCM meet in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: The fourth meeting of Nepal-Canada Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) concluded in Kathmandu on Monday, with both sides agreeing to continue regular consultations to expand and strengthen bilateral ties and mutual understanding.

Delegations from Nepal and Canada reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with the longstanding friendship and cooperation since diplomatic relations were established in 1965, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a press statement. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Discussions at the meeting covered political relations, trade and investment, development cooperation and priorities, education, climate change, clean energy, agriculture, information technology, people-to-people ties and consular matters. The Nepali delegation highlighted the government’s ongoing economic reform programmes and efforts to create a more enabling climate for foreign investment and private sector engagement.

The Canadian delegation welcomed Nepal’s reform efforts and praised the country’s role on the climate agenda, including initiatives on electric vehicles, green energy and rural electrification. Canada also noted Nepal’s continued commitment to democratic governance, sustainable development and economic transformation, the ministry said.

Delegates exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared concern, including climate action, peacekeeping, human rights and cooperation in multilateral forums such as the United Nations. Both sides reiterated their intention to work together on common global challenges.

The meeting was co-chaired by Dilip Kumar Paudel, Joint Secretary and Head of the North and South America Division at the MoFA, and Jean-Christian Brillant, Director General for South Asia Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada. The Nepali delegation included officials from the MoFA and other sectoral ministries. The Canadian delegation included Mark Allen, Deputy Ambassador of Canada; Dr Buddha Basnyat, Honorary Consul of Canada in Nepal; and Tejdeep Kaur, Senior Economic Officer at the Embassy of Canada in New Delhi.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing the BCM was signed in September 2018. The next meeting of the mechanism will be held in Canada on a date to be agreed by both sides.

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