Foreign Minister Saud Meets US Secretary of State for Bilateral Talks
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Published Date
Nepal's Foreign Minister, Mr. N. P. Saud, discusses bilateral ties & trade preferences with the US Secretary of State Mr. A Blinken in Washington, D.C.
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Yesterday, on October 30, 2023, Nepalese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. N. P. Saud, met with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. They discussed a variety of topics related to bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues that concern both nations. The two parties expressed satisfaction with the current status of their relationship and vowed to continue collaborating in areas of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Mr. Saud emphasized Nepal's development goals, particularly in light of the country's progress from being a least developed nation. He urged the US to provide increased support in trade, investment, market access, agriculture, food security, IT, and new technology sectors. The Foreign Minister also requested that the US reauthorize and expand the Nepal Trade Preference Program (NTPP) as well as GSP facilities by adding new exportable items important to Nepal.
The NTPP is a trade agreement that allows certain Nepalese products duty-free access to the US market. The agreement currently covers 77 tariff lines, which include specific travel goods, apparel, textiles, and headwear. Established by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, the program aimed at helping Nepal recover after the devastating earthquake in April 2015.
Thanking the US for its ongoing cooperation in supporting socio-economic development in Nepal through USAID and the Millennium Challenge Compact, Minister Saud stressed the need for timely implementation of MCC projects. Secretary Blinken expressed his admiration for Nepal's progress towards democratic governance and assured that US support for developmental endeavors would continue.
The two officials also discussed cooperation between their nations in multilateral forums along with other regional and global matters like the Middle East's ongoing situation. Inviting Secretary Blinken to visit Nepal soon, Minister Saud signed the guest book at the State Department before proceeding with their meeting.
Accompanying Mr. Saud and Secretary Blinken throughout their gathering was Ambassador Sridhar Khatri, along with other high-ranking officials from both nations. Later that evening, Ambassador Khatri hosted a reception in honor of the Nepalese Foreign Minister, attended by senior officials from various US agencies as well as diplomats and members of the Nepali-American community.