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🇳🇵 Nepal /Economy & Trade

Nepal, US plan high-level visits and other engagements next year

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Nepal and the United States are planning high-level visits and engagements next year to mark 80 years of diplomatic relations.
  • Nepal seeks to focus on business exchanges, attracting US investment, infrastructure projects, and engaging the diaspora.
  • Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal emphasized shared democratic values and a forward-looking partnership focused on digital transformation, clean energy, and human capital.

Nepal and the United States are set to deepen their relationship next year, marking 80 years of diplomatic ties with a series of high-level visits and engagements. Officials are discussing events in both Kathmandu and Washington, focusing on trade, investment, and cooperation in technology sectors like IT and artificial intelligence.

Nepal is particularly keen on a visit from a high-ranking US official, such as the Secretary of State, as the last such visit occurred in 2002. Since then, while Nepal has seen high-level political visits, US engagement has been primarily at the undersecretary or parliamentary level. The proposed engagements aim to revitalize this connection.

Our engagement has never been transactional; it is anchored in shared democratic values, mutual respect, and rich people-to-people connections.

— Shisir KhanalForeign Minister Shisir Khanal spoke at an event organized by the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF), emphasizing the foundational principles of Nepal-US bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal highlighted the enduring nature of Nepal-US relations, describing them as anchored in shared democratic values and people-to-people connections, rather than being purely transactional. He pointed to historical US assistance in public health and development, including the malaria control initiatives and the contributions of Peace Corps volunteers and the Fulbright program.

Looking ahead, Khanal outlined a vision for a modern partnership. He stressed the need for the relationship to evolve beyond traditional development aid as Nepal prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status. The proposed strategic pillars include advancing digital transformation by linking Nepal's tech talent with US innovation, driving clean energy and climate resilience through hydropower and grid development, and mobilizing human capital, including the Nepali diaspora in the US.

Today, this cooperation advances into high-impact infrastructure, as investments in clean energy transmission corridors and road connectivity. As Nepal prepares for its graduation from the Least Developed Country status, our bilateral relationship must evolve decisively beyond traditional development assistance.

— Shisir KhanalForeign Minister Shisir Khanal discussed the evolution of US cooperation with Nepal, highlighting infrastructure development and the need for a new partnership model as Nepal moves beyond its LDC status.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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