Kathmandu, Apr.20:British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Robin Cook arrived here by a special aircraft RAF VC-10 for a two-day official visit today.
“It’s been very enthusiastic to visit Nepal because our (Nepal and Britain’s) relations have been very strong and long,” Cook told reporters after he was received by Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Banstola at the VVIP Bay of Tribhuvan International Airport this evening.
Cook said that the highlight of his visit would be his audience with His Majesty the King and have meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Foreign Minister Banstola on a full working agenda.
“I hope to visit the British Gurkha’s Nepal camp tomorrow. Gurkhas have been the central part in the British relations with Nepal. They have been the central part of the British Army. They serve with great distinction. Most recently they were the part of the team that served in East Timor to help bring peace and security in that troubled area.”
The British Foreign Secretary said that he wanted to express his appreciation on the Gurkha soldiers’ contribution and also to highlight the new pension award for Gurkha soldiers. “All Gurkha pensions have now at least doubled.”
“I also want to see for my self and applaud the multiparty democracy system that has been created here in Nepal,” he said adding, “That democratic process makes Nepal a firm partner with us in development.”
Cook reminded that Britain is the second largest bilateral aid donor to Nepal. He said that he will be visiting a number of projects here and he would be reporting on the success of Nepal-British joint work.
The visiting British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, after arriving at the British Embassy here this evening, opened the new office of Nepal-Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the new office, Cook said “we can now work together even more closely to multiply the trading opportunities for our two countries. This will build on the work you have already started; promoting British wool in Nepalese carpet manufacturing and knitwear; displaying UK products and services at the recent Himalayan Expo 2000, with specific and successful opportunities for British business; and forging new and dynamic initiatives in IT and other areas.”
He further said: We hope that as trade develops and prosperity grows trade will transcend aid as the basis for the country’s development as we move together into the new millennium.”
He is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the new British Council building here tomorrow.
Cook is the first British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to visit Nepal. “It’s a general, bilateral and a goodwill visit” Foreign Minister Banstola said just before receiving Cook at the TIA this evening. “The visit is an opportunity in getting to know each other better on the entire gamut of international relations.”
Cook will leave for the UK at 22:15 tomorrow evening.
RSS adds: British Secretary of Foreign Affairs Robin Cook’s official visit beginning today is expected to add a new dimension to the bilateral friendly relations and promote bilateral trade and investment.
President of the Nepal-Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rajendra Khetan has expressed confidence that the first-ever visit by a British Foreign Secretary will contribute to ensuring economic development of Nepal.
Stating that successful privatization of public undertakings of Britain may prove important in the context of Nepal also, Mr. Khetan noted that talks between the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and those from the business community will be important.
The visit by the British Foreign Secretary will significantly contribute to importing British technology and raw materials for exporting finished products and increasing the number of British tourists in Nepal, he said and spoke of the need to form a joint economic council in the private sector to promote bilateral trade.
Observing that the first-ever visit by a British Foreign Secretary after the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1816 A.D. is of course positive and the visit has come at a time when the Labour Party has responded our economic activities such as promoting trade and investment rather than achieving only economic assistance.
Trade between Nepal and Britain has been increasing in recent years.
In fiscal year 1997/98, Nepal exported goods worth Rs. 318.160 million to Britain, while during the same period Nepal imported goods worth Rs. 312.640 million from Britain.
Nepal exports ready-made garments, carpets, and woolen and handicraft goods to Britain, while it imports machinery parts, electricals goods, aircraft spare parts, muslin, medicines, scientific tools and goods made of good and silver.
At present, eight industries are in operation under Nepal-English joint venture.
The number of British tourists is also increasing in recent years. In 1997, a total of 2,998 British tourists had visited Nepal, while the number rose to 35,497 in the following year.
During his visit to India, British Secretary of Foreign Affairs Cook had said trade relations with Nepal will be expanded on the basis of partnership.
The 200 year old relations between the two countries has been cordial at the people’s level and recruitment of Gurkha soldiers has contributed to further promoting it.