PM Koirala to meet Nepali community in Myanmar

Wrapping up his first official foreign visit, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is scheduled to meet the Burmese community of Nepali origin in Myanmar today.

Prime Minister bids farewell as he leaves for Myanmar to attend the BIMSTEC Summit on Sunday. NN/Narayan Maharjan

PM Koirala was in Myanmar to attend the third BIMSTEC summit, held in Myanmar’s Nay Pyi Daw. According to a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, PM Koirala and his delegation will fly to Yangon from  Nay Pyi Daw today. PM Koirala will first visit the Nepali embassy in Yangon and then meet the Burmese community of Nepali origin.

The delegation is scheduled to catch a flight to Bangkok today evening. PM Koirala and his delegation will arrive in Kathmandu on Thursday afternoon.

PM Koirala is returning with the chairmanship of BIMSTEC, handed over by Myanmar’s President Thein Sein during the summit on Tuesday. Addressing the summit, PM Koirala has said the efforts of the BIMSTEC should be geared towards freeing the people from the poverty trap as this region confronts the formidable challenges of poverty.

During his visit, PM Koirala called on the leaders and government heads of all member states and discussed issues of bilateral relations including trade, transit, tourism, investment and hydropower. He also met with leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi on Tuesday.

The Nepali delegation to BIMSTEC includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Foreign Policy Advisor Dinesh Bhattarai, Officiating Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, Ambassador of Nepal to Myanmar Paras Ghimire, Joint Secretary Yagya Bahadur Hamal, Under Secretary Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri and other officials.