Kathmandu, January 19
Princess Astrid, the younger sister of King Philippe of Belgium, has arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday on a weeklong visit. Nepal’s Minister of State for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Moti Lal Dugad received the royal at the Tribhuvan International Airport this afternoon.
During her stay here, the guest will pay a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and have separate meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, and Health Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed.
Princess Astrid will visit Kailai, Nawalparasi and Chitwan districts. In Kailali, she will join the opening ceremony of a new tuberculosis centre and meet leprosy and tuberculosis patients. Likewise, she will visit the Midpoint Hospital in Nawalparasi and meet tuberculosis and leprosy patients there.
These facilities have been supported by the Damien Foundation, a Belgium-based NGO, in which the royal is involved as the honorary chairperson, according to the ministry.
The royal will return home on Saturday, December 25.
