Nepal and Maldives Foreign Ministers Discuss Expansion of Bilateral Cooperation

Dragon Media News Desk

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal held bilateral talks with his Maldivian counterpart, Iruthish Adam, in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting focused on strengthening Nepal–Maldives relations and expanding cooperation on regional and multilateral issues, according to Khanal’s secretariat.

Khanal expressed gratitude to the government and people of the Maldives for their condolences, solidarity and humanitarian assistance following the recent floods in Nepal. The two ministers exchanged views on increasing high-level visits and exploring opportunities for cooperation in tourism, employment and education.

The discussions also covered climate change, development financing and sustainable development. Both sides considered ways to strengthen cooperation in these areas, reflecting their shared concerns about climate-related risks and development challenges.

The ministers agreed to continue coordination on matters of common interest through multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa, and other members of the Nepali delegation attended the meeting.