Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa has held a meeting with British Minister of State Rt. Hon. Hugo Swire at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom on Thursday.

During the meeting, matters pertaining to bilateral relations, development support from the United Kingdom, reconstruction process, and exchange of high-level visits were discussed.

Minister Thapa recalled the historic visit of Prince Harry to Nepal last month and said that this meeting has added extra impetus in Nepal-UK relations. Such other visits at high political level would continue to take place, he hoped.

Minister Thapa expressed that in the context of bicentennial celebration between the two countries, ‘it was very opportune moment for the British Government to address all remaining issues related to British Gurkhas once and for all and do justice and give recognition to British Gurkhas for their tremendous sacrifices to the British interest and cause’. In response, Swire said that the British Government would make ‘every possible effort to resolve the issue’.

Earlier today, Minister Thapa held meeting with Minister of State at the Department for International Development (DFID) Rt. Hon. Desmond Swayne MP at House of Commons, during which they discussed about the development cooperation between the two countries, especially, in the context of Nepal’s ongoing reconstruction process.

Minister Thapa urged the British Minister to increase the support to Nepal in order to help institutionalise the political achievements made so far. Minister Swayne assured of fullest cooperation to Nepal.

Thapa was accompanied by Tej Bahadur Chhetri, CDA at the Nepali Embassy in London and Bharat Kumar Regmi, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whereas the British Ministers were accompanied by other high-level officials.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa had arrived in London on Wednesday and is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on Friday.