Kathmandu, November 29
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has left Kathmandu for an official trip to the United Kingdom, on Friday morning. Deuba is visiting the European country to lead the Nepali delegation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change-26th Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.
The delegation includes Forest and Environment Minister Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal, Environment Secretary Pem Narayan Kandel, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini, Energy Secretary Devendra Karki, Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey and National Planning Commission Secretary Kewal Prasad Bhandari among others.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Deuba will return home on November 4 although the COP26 will last till November 12.
The ministry says Deuba will attend the official opening ceremony of COP26 on November 1. He will deliver Nepal’s national statement at the World Leaders Summit and attend a reception to be hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the same day.
He will also meet British parliamentarians, leaders of the Nepali and Gurkha communities in the UK.
Meanwhile, Deuba is also preparing to hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
This is Deuba’s first visit since he assumed office as the fifth-time PM in July.
Khand acting PM
Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has designated Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand to work as the prime minister until PM Deuba will return home.
Khand is the most senior minister in the 24-member Deuba cabinet.
