Wellington, September 25
Senior officials from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade met with representatives of the Nepali community in Wellington to discuss relief, reconstruction, and bilateral cooperation following the devastating flood in Bhotekoshi.
At Friday’s meeting, New Zealand officials spoke of the special bilateral relationship between Nepal and New Zealand, noting that the assistance New Zealand provided immediately after the disaster reflected that friendship. Ministry officials said recent talks at the prime ministerial and foreign ministerial level between the two countries had further strengthened this warm relationship.
The meeting explored possible areas of cooperation between the two countries during the reconstruction phase. Discussions touched on how New Zealand’s world-class knowledge and expertise in disaster management could benefit Nepal, with such support to be tailored to Nepal’s specific needs.
The two sides also discussed opportunities for cooperation in key sectors such as education, engineering, and trade. Ministry officials praised the important role the Nepali community has played in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries. Nepali representatives, in turn, expressed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations for the shared benefit of both countries and their peoples.
Earlier, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts had expressed solidarity over the flood disaster and sent a personally signed letter to the Nepali delegation.
The Nepali delegation at the meeting included Prof. Dr Rajesh Dhakal of the University of Canterbury, Christchurch; Dr Achyut Aryal, president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) New Zealand; and Raj Maharjan and Mandira Rimal, president and vice-president respectively of the New Zealand Nepal Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber president Maharjan said the meeting at this level between the Nepali community and the New Zealand government would prove fruitful in promoting trade and business interests between the two countries.
