Kathmandu, June 9
William Todd, United States’ Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, called on Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the latter’s office in Singhadurbar on Thursday.
A host of issues like Nepal-US relations, post-quake reconstruction, constitution making as well as implementation and US assistance for Nepal’s economic development figured in the meeting.
On the occasion, the US official hailed Oli government’s bid to implement the constitution and appeal to the international community for economic development of Nepal. He pledged assistance towards the government’s efforts to address disgruntled political parties’ demands through talks. Todd expressed hope that talks will be able to sort out all problems.
The US official expressed concern about post-quake reconstruction work and stressed the need to accelerate the same, Pramod Dahal, PM Oli’s press adviser, informed.
On his part, PM Oli pointed that Nepal’s constitution was the very best because a popularly-elected Constituent Assembly had promulgated it after 82 per cent of CA members endorsed it after discussing every clause of the charter.
There’s no reason why any party should be dissatisfied with this constitution, PM Oli said, adding that causes of dissatisfaction can be addressed through talks.
“Dissatisfied parties have turned down my appeals for talks and tried to cause instability,” PM Oli said. He stressed the need to expand economic and trade relations between Nepal and the US. Hailing the US for waiving tax on 66 Nepali goods, he said the waiver should also cover garment and carpet.
