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 the international issues and bolstering multilateral cooperation, according to 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 in 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 government of Nepal towards principle of inclusiveness to ensure participation of marginalized communities in the State apparatus and appraised of 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 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 Nepal-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendly Group, opening the door for the parliaments of the 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 a legislation aimed at transitional justice, President Nussbaumer expressed Switzerland’s readiness to assist in its implementation. He also lauded Nepal for adopting federal governance system through the provision in new constitution, and pledged Swiss government’s support in implementation of federalism. In recognition to the potential of tourism in Nepal, Nussbaumer vowed utmost assistance from the Swiss government in tourism promotion of Nepal.