KATHMANDU: Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Dr Bimala Rai Poudyal.

In a meeting held at the ministry on Tuesday, they discussed diverse matters related to the Nepal-US mutual interests, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Agendas including the execution of the US assistance Millennium Challenge Corporation, climate change and assistance to be provided to Nepal after graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) status were discussed in the meeting.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Poudyal extended thanks to the US government for its assistance to Nepal while administrator Power pledged to increase support to Nepal on behalf of the US government in coming days.

Administrator Power who arrived in Nepal on her two-day official visit assumed office as USAID’s 19th administrator on 3 May 2021.

She has been leading the world’s leading international development agency that has over 10,000 employees worldwide. Power had worked as the 28th US Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017.

From 2009 to 2013, Power served the National Security Council as a special assistant of the President and Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights.