Kathmandu, January 16
Princess Astrid, the younger sister of King Philippe of Belgium, is visiting Nepal from January 19 to 25.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the royal is scheduled to 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.
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 government hopes that the visit would contribute to further strengthening the bilateral relations and expanding the areas of cooperation between Nepal and Belgium.
