Balanced relations to be maintained with all countries: Foreign Minister Khadka

KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Narayan Khadka, has said that a balanced relation would be maintained with all countries of the world including China and India, keeping the country’s national interest in the centre.

Talking to media persons after assuming the office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singha Durbar this afternoon, Minister Khadka shared that friendly and balanced relations would be maintained with all countries of the world putting the national interest as supreme.

He opined, “We will move ahead discussing with all political parties to promote country’s national welfare and interest. Foreign policy of the country will be conducted on the basis of consensus of all political parties.”

Saying it was necessary to make foreign relation smooth, cordial and strong in the current world scenario, the Foreign Affairs Minister expressed commitment to take all possible efforts in order to make the Foreign Ministry more dynamic and technology-savvy.

He took time to make it clear the China-introduced ‘Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)’, ‘ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)’, the US-aid project and the Indo-Pacific Strategy would be properly studied and no agreement capable of hurting the interest of the nation would be signed.

In response to queries about government’s recent decision to call back ambassadors from different countries when the posts of ambassadors for other several countries were lying vacant, the new Foreign Affairs Minister claimed competent persons with knowledge and understanding of diplomatic dealings, international language(s), culture, customs of the respective countries would be send there.

As he said, he personally believed that competent faces capable of promoting the image and interest of the nation should be given opportunity for serving the country as ambassadors.

The Minister is scheduled to leave for New York, US this evening leading a Nepali delegation to attend the 76th United Nations General Assembly. During his stay in New York, the Minister will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from different nations.

He will also be sitting for a meeting with foreign/external affairs ministers of the SAARC countries on the sidelines of the UNGA and such meeting are expected to be helpful in consolidating the bilateral and diplomatic ties among the SAARC countries.