KATHMANDU — A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Nepal and the Kingdom of Morocco on establishing a bilateral consultative mechanism at the foreign secretary level.
Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Morocco’s ambassador to Nepal, Mohamed Maliki signed on the MoU at a special function held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Secretary Bairagi said the establishment of the consultative mechanism has been a landmark in the history of bilateral relations between Nepal and Morocco, which will provide a forum to explore the ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties through the annual meeting to be convened in the two countries alternatively.
He added that the mechanism would also provide a forum to facilitate the exchange of visits to conduct consultations between the two countries in the fields of mutual interest, particularly in the political, economic, trade, investment, financial, industrial, educational, social, sports, scientific, technical and technological fields.
He also noted that both Nepal and Morocco have been working together and voicing shared views in the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and G-77 on issues relating to international peace, human rights, climate change and global security, ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations between them on 18 February 1975.
While recalling that Morocco had provided 1 million US Dollars assistance to Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, he said both countries have supported each other on various occasions including Morocco’s membership in International Law Commission (2017-2021), International Court of Justice (2015-2024), in Human Rights Council Vice President (2006-2007) and Peacebuilding Commission (2009-2010).
Likewise, Morocco supported Nepal on various occasions such as CEDAW and is also supporting in UN Human Rights Council (2018-2020), Foreign Secretary Bairagi said.
Ambassador Maliki said that although his country was not rich, it has been extending cooperation to friendly country Nepal at the time of need. He gave assurances of increasing the scholarship quota for the Nepali students in science and technology field while pledging to work for making the bilateral cooperation fruitful.
At the program, honorary consul of Morocco to Nepal, Basanta Kumar Chaudhary, and high officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present. RSS
