Nepal has asked the United Kingdom to provide all its assistance to the government.

Visiting Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa made the request on Wednesday during a meeting with Minister of State at the Department for International Development Desmond Swayne at the House of Commons in London, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. He asked the British government to provide aid through the Nepal government’s channel as far as possible.

Swayne assured of “fullest cooperation” to Nepal, read the statement. Thapa also expressed his hope that trade and bilateral investment would be further scaled up in the days to come.

During the meeting, the duo discussed development cooperation between the two countries, especially in the context of Nepal’s ongoing reconstruction process. Appreciating UK’s support to Nepal’s development endeavours, Thapa urged the British minister to increase the aid in order to help institutionalise Nepal’s political gains.

Thapa also met Minister of State Hugo Swire at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. During the meeting, matters of bilateral relations, development support to Nepal, the post-earthquake reconstruction process, and exchange of high-level visits were discussed.

Recalling the historic visit of Prince Harry to Nepal last month, DPM Thapa said the royal visit was received with high interest in Nepal and it provided extra impetus to the Nepal-UK relations, according to the Nepali Embassy in London.

Citing the bicentennial celebration of bilateral relations, Thapa said it was an opportune moment for the British government to address all the remaining issues related to the British Gurkhas once and for all and to duly recognise their tremendous sacrifices to the British interest and cause.

Swire is said to have responded that the British government would make every possible effort to resolve the issue. He also assured of increased political, moral and financial support to Nepal in the new context that has arisen after the promulgation of the new constitution in Nepal.