The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released its monthly performance report for Asar 2083, highlighting high-level diplomatic engagements and bilateral cooperation. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal completed a four-day official visit to China at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while Nepal also coordinated Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav’s official visit to Qatar to convey condolences following the death of former Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The ministry facilitated a visit by a UAE delegation led by Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, while separate engagements were held with representatives of Japan, Russia, India, Bhutan and the UNFPA. Nepal and China also held the 12th meeting of the China-Nepal Economic and Trade Joint Committee, covering trade, connectivity, infrastructure and investment, while Nepal and Denmark reviewed cooperation in clean energy, trade, tourism, information technology and digital innovation.
Citizen protection and consular services remained a major focus. By Asar 25, the government had coordinated the rescue of 836 Nepali nationals from illegally operated online scam centres in Southeast Asia, including 709 from Cambodia, 113 from Myanmar, eight from Laos and six from Thailand. Cambodia also waived visa fees and fines for 602 Nepalis following continued requests from the Nepali embassy. During the month, the Department of Consular Services authenticated 102,938 documents, coordinated the rescue of 130 Nepalis, facilitated compensation-related cases involving 40 deceased or injured citizens, and assisted with the management of the bodies of 21 Nepalis who died abroad. A total of 79,180 passports were issued through the Department of Passports, Nepali missions and district or area administration offices.
The report also highlights major reforms in passport and economic-diplomacy services. On Asar 29, the Department of Passports completed what the ministry described as the largest data migration in Nepal’s history and began operating a new passport production, management and distribution system. An agreement with the postal service was also implemented to speed up passport delivery to district and area administration offices. In economic diplomacy, the ministry said it has now prepared country-specific strategies for 20 countries, discussed the export of fresh Nepali agricultural products to the UAE and other Gulf markets, and continued work on updating the Economic Diplomacy Programme Guidelines. Nepal and India also held the 13th Joint Steering Committee and Joint Working Group meetings on power-sector cooperation in Pokhara.
Other activities included the fifth Yadu Nath Khanal Lecture Series, the launch of research activities under the MoFA Nepal Summer Internship and Fellowship Programme, diplomatic protocol training for lawmakers and officials, and the return of two stolen archaeological artefacts from the United States—a 13th-century Padmapani Lokeshvara and a 16th-century wooden Nritya Devi sculpture. The ministry also continued regular press briefings, public diplomacy campaigns and international coordination on climate, security and multilateral issues throughout the month.
