Kathmandu: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Kathmandu Saturday night on a four-days official visit to Nepal at the invitation Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. He was received at the airport by Foreign Minister NP Saud and Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal. Secretary-General is scheduled to have a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel at the Office of the President and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at the Prime Minister’s office on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. He will also hold separate meetings with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli. Following the meetings, he will observe the Patan Durbar Square, a heritage site of historical and archeological importance. Prime Minister Dahal will host a banquet reception on Sunday evening in honor of Secretary-General Guterres. In course of his visit, the Secretary-General will move to Namche, Pokhara, Annapurna Base Camp and Lumbini on Monday.
According to the Parliament Secretariat, he is scheduled to address the joint session of the federal parliament at 4.00 pm on Tuesday. Guterres will discuss on the matters relating to the peace process, sustainable development and climate change, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed. The high-level visit of the UN Secretary-General taking place after a hiatus of around 15 years has been taken with importance.
The visit of the UN chief is watched with interest in Kathmandu because the transitional justice process, vital part of peace process of which the UN was also a stakeholder, remains in limbo for years. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the visit of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to Nepal will help enhance Nepal’s reputation globally. During his Nepal visit, the UN Secretary-General is expected to address issues related to climate change, Nepal’s peace process, and its economic development goals.
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