NA Chair Dahal, Swiss National Council’s President hold bilateral meeting

Kathmandu: National Assembly (NA) Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal and Swiss National Council’s President Eric Nussbaumer held a bilateral meeting in Geneva, Switzerland today.

The meeting took place during NA Chairperson Dahal’s participation in the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Switzerland. During the meeting, they discussed further enhancing bilateral and economic relations between the two countries as well as addressing international issues and bolstering multilateral cooperation, according to the Federal Parliament’s Secretariat.

On the occasion, Dahal expressed gratitude on the behalf of Nepali people towards the Swiss government for its important support in Nepal’s peace process and conflict management.

Mentioning the common viewpoint that both countries had been upholding in various international multilateral forums such as the United Nations and IPU, he articulated Nepal’s readiness for further strengthening the mutual interests and friendly ties between Nepal and Switzerland at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, the Secretariat said.

Noting Switzerland’s exemplary practice of democracy and federalism, he said that Nepal seeks to learn from these practices and further strengthen democracy and democratic institutions.

He highlighted the commitment of the government of Nepal towards the principle of inclusiveness to ensure the participation of marginalized communities in the State apparatus and appraised the provision of at least 33 per cent participation of women in the federal parliament and province assembly and at least 41 per cent in local levels.

Reaffirming Nepal’s commitment towards completing the remaining works of the peace process, he said that Nepal was moving towards the goal of sustainable peace, stability and development. ‘We expect the Swiss government’s significant support to conclude the peace process in Nepal,’ he appealed.

Dahal also informed that the Federal Parliament had formed the Nepal-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendly Group, opening the door for the parliaments of both countries to exchange their experiences, knowledge and support.

Acknowledging Switzerland as one of the important development partners of Nepal, he expressed his gratitude to the government of Switzerland and Swiss citizens for their continuous development assistance.

Likewise, Swiss National Council’s President Nussbaumer discussed the strong ties sharing Nepal and Switzerland and expressed his happiness to hold a meeting with his Nepali counterpart, the Secretariat said. Congratulating Nepal for introducing legislation aimed at transitional justice, President Nussbaumer expressed Switzerland’s readiness to assist in its implementation.

He also lauded Nepal for adopting a federal governance system through the provision of the new constitution and pledged the Swiss government’s support in the implementation of federalism.

In recognition of the potential of tourism in Nepal, Nussbaumer vowed the utmost assistance from the Swiss government in the tourism promotion of Nepal.

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