Kathmandu, October 6
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal and Milton Dick, Speaker of the Australian Parliament, have held talks.
Speaker Aryal is in Arusha, Tanzania, to attend the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). According to Aryal’s secretariat, the two speakers discussed a range of topics at today’s meeting, including the friendly relations between Nepal and Australia and parliamentary cooperation.
On the occasion, Speaker Aryal said that since diplomatic relations were established between Nepal and Australia in 1960, ties based on friendship, mutual respect and shared democratic values have continued to strengthen.
He thanked the Australian government for the humanitarian assistance and search and rescue support it provided after the flood in the Bhotekoshi area. Expressing condolences to the families of the Australian citizens who went missing in the flood, he praised the solidarity Australia showed during the disaster.
Noting that Himalayan countries, including Nepal, are being seriously affected by climate change, Speaker Aryal expressed hope for Australia’s support and solidarity in international debates and initiatives on climate change.
Aryal said the formation of the Nepal-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group is an important foundation for further strengthening parliamentary ties between the two countries.
He expressed the view that bilateral relations can be strengthened further through regular interaction among parliamentarians, exchange of experience and parliamentary diplomacy.
During the meeting, Australian Speaker Dick expressed Australia’s willingness to further strengthen parliamentary and bilateral relations with Nepal, the secretariat said.
