Kathmandu, 28 May: New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters arrived in Kathmandu today on an official visit to Nepal. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he will be in Nepal for two days, on May 27 and 28 (Jestha 14 and 15).
This marks the first high-level political visit from New Zealand to Nepal. According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Peters arrived in Nepal following his official visit to Sri Lanka.
During his visit, Peters is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and Chairman of the Maoist Centre Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), among other top officials. He will also hold bilateral talks with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba at the Dwarika’s Hotel.
On Thursday morning, Peters is set to travel to Lukla. Upon returning, he is scheduled to visit various World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. He is expected to depart for New Delhi, India, on Thursday evening.
Last year, then-Foreign Minister NP Saud visited New Zealand. In recent times, there has been an increasing exchange of official visits between the two countries, and New Zealand has begun to place more importance on its relationship with Nepal. However, neither country maintains an embassy in the other. The New Zealand Embassy in New Delhi currently oversees relations with Nepal.
According to information provided by the New Zealand government, Peters’ Asia tour includes visits to Australia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India, after which he will return home. The New Zealand government has stated that it shares a special bond with Nepal.
This relationship dates back to 1953, when New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepali mountaineer Tenzing Norgay Sherpa successfully summited Mount Everest. According to the Ministry, around 1,500 Nepali students are currently studying in New Zealand, and many Nepalis also travel there for employment.
New Zealand has supported the development of Nepal’s Himalayan region, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare. It also contributed to relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in 2015 (2072 B.S.), according to the Ministry.
