Chinese Ambassador Meets SAARC Secy General

Chinese ambassador to Nepal and Chinese permanent representative to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Yang Houlan met with Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC recently. According to the Chinese Embassy website, they exchanged views on China-SAARC relations, etc.

Saleem welcomed Yang as assuming the post of Chinese Permanent Representative to SAARC and thought it showed China put great importance on SAARC and its cooperation with SAARC. Saleem highly valued China's relations with SAARC as an Observer, and China's relations with the Members of SAARC. He said that he will promote more close China-SAARC cooperation.

Yang highly appreciated Saleem's support to China-SAARC cooperation and said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with SAARC and its Members. As Chinese Permanent Representative to SAARC, he said he will try his best to push forward the development of China-SAARC friendly relations.

They also discussed the situations of South Asia and Nepal.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Yang met with Manarup Shahi, the Executive Chairman of Nepali Airlines Corporation. The two sides exchanged their views on the tourism and civil aviation cooperation between China and Nepal.

The two sides agreed that as the number of Chinese tourists to Nepal keeps increasing, the potential of tourism and civil aviation cooperation between China and Nepal is expanding. Effective measures should be adopted to promote the relevant cooperation between the both sides.

Ambassador Yang also met with Durga Prasad Pokharel, Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchok, Nepal's northern district bordering with China, and attended his dinner.

They reviewed the history of the friendly exchanges between China and Nepal, and reached a consensus that the two sides continue to strengthen the coordinate and cooperate, make good use of the road link of border trade to further promote China-Nepal friendship and mutually-beneficial cooperation. Mrs. Di Rong, Economic and Commercial Counselor and Mr. Gong Bao, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy also attended the meeting and dinner.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal Ashif Memon handed over about Rs. 1.5 million to Kist Medical College and Hospital. The money will be used to buy medical equipment for the Hospital. According to Hospital, the money will be used to buy Pulmonary Test Machine and Color Portable Doppler Ultrasound.

On behalf of government of Pakistan, Ambassador Memon handed over money for the treatment of common people and medical student studying at the college. Ambassador Memon handed over the check to principle of college Dr. T.P. Thapa at a function organized at Kist Medical College.

"It is a just a token but it will help to buy the equipment. This help symbolizes goodwill of people and government of Pakistan towards Nepal and Nepalese people and will help to strengthen bilateral relations exist between the two countries," said ambassador Memon. "The equipment will provide service to general public and help students to enhance their capability. These kinds of help will continue in future."

Accepting the money, Dr. T.P. Thapa said this money will help to provide specialist service to the general public.

US senate confirmed President Obama nominee Peter Bodde to be the ambassador to Nepal. Bodde will be Ambassador DeLisi’s successor in Nepal, pending confirmation by the United States Senate, as required by the U.S. Constitution.

Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi departed Kathmandu after serving more than two years as President Obama’s envoy to Nepal. Ambassador DeLisi’s next assignment will be as the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda.

EU Commissioner Janez Potocnik thanked Brazil and the President of Brazil personally for her efforts in bringing the Rio+ conference to a successful conclusion.

"We support the adoption of this outcome document. As partners know, there are a

number of areas where we would have hoped for a more ambitious outcome, for instance

with regard to the definition of concrete timelines for the realization of goals in the priority

areas covered by the document," said Janez.

“At the same time, we welcome the fact that this outcome document acknowledges the important role of the green economy in achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication. This is an important step in the right direction."

EU also welcomed the document’s recognition of the need for broader measures of

progress to complement GDP, and the importance of corporate sustainability reporting.

“We must now turn these words into action.”