Speaker Ghimire calls on Cambodian PM, discusses Lumbini-Angkor direct flights

KATHMANDU: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Dev Raj Ghimire, is on a five-day visit to Cambodia, where he had a courtesy meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and President of the Senate of Cambodia, Samdech Hun Sen.

The Speaker's Secretariat stated that during the meeting with Prime Minister Manet at the Peace Palace in Cambodia, important issues were discussed to elevate the historical relationship between the two countries.

In the meeting, Speaker Ghimire emphasised the need to establish direct air services between Buddha's birthplace, Lumbini, and Cambodia's Angkor to promote Hindu and Buddhist heritage.

The Speaker opined that this initiative would further encourage spiritual tourism and cultural exchange. An air agreement was signed between Nepal and Cambodia in 2075 BS.

During the meeting, there was a discussion about promoting experience exchange programmes between citizens of both countries. Speaker Ghimire also extended a formal invitation to the Prime Minister of Cambodia to visit Nepal.

Prime Minister Manet remarked that the inter-parliamentary assembly of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) is an excellent platform for the cooperation of small nations. He expressed his desire to arrange a suitable time to visit Nepal. The meeting is seen as an important opportunity to further strengthen economic, cultural, and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.

Speaker Ghimire met with Sen, President of the Upper House Senate, on Sunday evening.

During the meeting held at the Cambodia People's Party headquarters, both parties discussed the issue of further strengthening the relationship between the legislatures of the two countries. Similarly, the Secretariat of Speaker Ghimire stated that the possibility of further strengthening long-term relations between the two countries, parliamentary practice, regional cooperation, and cooperation on matters of common interest were also discussed.

The Speaker, while sharing the experience of the unique success of the Nepali peace process, expressed the view that both countries could have more understanding and partnership in areas of common interest.

On Saturday evening, he also met with the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia. The Speaker, who reached Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh leading a five-member delegation, addressed the 11th plenary session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace on Sunday and will return home on Tuesday.

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