GNN, Arusha – Tanzania,  — Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal, Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal, held a meeting with his British counterpart on the sidelines of the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania.

During the meeting, Speaker Aryal recalled the long-standing historical, friendly and close relations between Nepal and the United Kingdom and stressed the need to further strengthen parliamentary cooperation as an important dimension of bilateral relations.

Aryal appreciated the United Kingdom’s long-term support for Nepal’s socio-economic development. He also expressed gratitude for the solidarity and emergency assistance extended by the UK following the devastating floods and landslides that recently caused significant loss of life and property in Nepal.

The Speaker informed his British counterpart about the formation of the Nepal-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group and said that the two countries could expand cooperation in areas including the exchange of knowledge, experience and information among parliamentarians, parliamentary dialogue and capacity building.

The two sides also discussed the unequal impacts of climate change on Nepal and issues concerning mountain regions. Speaker Aryal emphasised the importance of international cooperation in addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change.

Referring to the Nepali community in the United Kingdom, as well as serving and former British Gurkha soldiers and their families, Aryal described them as important bridges between Nepal and the UK. He highlighted their significant contribution to strengthening people-to-people relations and deepening bilateral ties.

On the occasion, Speaker Aryal reiterated his invitation to his British counterpart to visit Nepal and expressed his desire to welcome the British parliamentary delegation to Nepal in the near future.