Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrives in Kathmandu

Kathmandu,April23: Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day state visit at the cordial invitation of President Ram Chandra Paudel.

Upon arrival at TIA, President Paudel welcomed him at the VVIP lounge. Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha reached TIA to receive the distinguished guest from Qatar.

Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, members of the Council of Ministers, high-ranking government officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu were at TIA to welcome the Qatari Emir.

The Qatari Emir arrived here this afternoon on a special plane upon completion of his State visit to Bangladesh.

A contingent of the Nepali Army presented a guard of honour and fired 21 canon salvoes, welcoming the visiting dignitary.

The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President Ramchandra Paudel will hold a high-level meeting at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas this evening. President Paudel will also organize a state banquet in honour of the Emir this evening.

Nepal and Qatar will sign MoUs on various areas including on youth and sports, and education and scientific research during the Emir’s visit.

This is the first visit by any Qatari Emir to Nepal ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations on January 21, 1977. Nepal opened its embassy in Doha, Qatar on July 11, 2000 and Qatar its embassy in Nepal in Kathmandu in August 2011.