The first meeting of Nepal-Canada Bilateral Consultation Mechanism was held at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development in Ottawa, Canada, on Friday.

Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Assistant Deputy Minister Asia Pacific at Global Affairs Canada, Donald Bobiash led their respective delegations in the meeting, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides reviewed the status of Nepal-Canada bilateral relations and deliberated on the issues of mutual interests, the statement said. They also agreed on the need to enhance Nepal-Canada relations with more engagements in the areas, including trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, migration, education, climate change, technology transfer, and visa and consular matters.

The Nepali side shared with the Canadian delegation the development priorities of the Government of Nepal. The Canadian side expressed their readiness to support Nepal’s development endeavours.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular contacts at different levels with a view to further strengthen the bilateral ties. Recalling the historic meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the two sides also discussed about exchanging high level visits in the days ahead.

A memorandum of understanding establishing the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the two countries was signed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Canadian Justin Trudeau in New York on September 24 . The next meeting of the mechanism will be held in Kathmandu.