KATHMANDU: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Kathmandu today.
He arrived in Nepal at the invitation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
The UN Secretary-General landed in Kathmandu on an official visit to Nepal for the first time since he assumed office in January 2017.
On the first day of his visit on Sunday, Secretary-General Guterres is scheduled to have a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the Office of the President and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Secretary-General will have separate meetings with Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli at the New Baneswor-based Federal Parliament Building.
Likewise, Guterres is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minster duo, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Narayankaji Shrestha.
Following the meetings, he will observe Patan Durbar Square, a heritage site of historical and archeological importance.
Prime Minister Dahal will host a banquet reception on Sunday evening in honor of Secretary-General Guterres.
In the course of his visit, the Secretary-General will move to Namche, Pokhara, Annapurna Base Camp and Lumbini on Monday.
According to the Parliament Secretariat, he is scheduled to address the joint session of the federal parliament at 4.00 pm on Tuesday.
This high-level visit of the UN Secretary-General taking place after a hiatus of around 15 years has been taken with importance.
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