U.S. Congressional Delegation Visits Kathmandu Heritage Sites
Dragon Media Newsroom
A U.S. congressional delegation led by Representative Jason Smith visited heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley on Saturday, including Patan Durbar Square, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath. Megan Bouldin, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, accompanied the group.
Nepali media reports said the delegation had 16 members, including lawmakers, congressional staff and representatives of government agencies. Some members reportedly travelled to Chitwan on Saturday. No detailed information has been made public about the delegation’s official meetings, main purpose or further programme in Nepal.
Regional tour included India and Bhutan
Publicly available reports indicate that the delegation visited India and Bhutan before arriving in Nepal. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the U.S. lawmakers in Mumbai on October 20. He said they discussed trade, energy, security and technology, ease of doing business in India, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
The delegation met the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala on October 21. According to the Dalai Lama’s office, the lawmakers were Jason Smith, David Schweikert, Elise Stefanik, Laura Friedman and Andy Ogles. Smith chairs the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means.
A public post from Bhutan’s Prime Minister’s Office also reported a meeting between Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and the delegation led by Smith. The group then travelled to Nepal.
Nepal itinerary not made public
No official itinerary has been released identifying which Nepali government officials or political leaders the delegation may meet. Discussions held in India should not be assumed to reflect the agenda of its Nepal visit. Beyond the heritage-site visits in Kathmandu and reports of a trip to Chitwan, further details of the delegation’s programme in Nepal have not been confirmed.
The visit provides an opportunity to maintain parliamentary and people-to-people contacts between Nepal and the United States. Its specific diplomatic significance and priorities for Nepal will become clearer if details of meetings with Nepali officials are made public.
