Blurb: Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah held his first individual meeting with a foreign official, reaffirming development cooperation commitments together.
Kathmandu
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Tuesday held his first one-on-one meeting with a foreign official since assuming office, meeting Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda in Kathmandu. The meeting marked a notable shift in the Prime Minister’s diplomatic engagements, as he had previously avoided individual meetings with foreign representatives in favour of collective interactions with ambassadors and diplomats.
Shah, who took office on March 27, has consistently followed a strict diplomatic protocol that prioritised group meetings over bilateral engagements with foreign envoys. His office confirmed that the meeting with Kanda was an exception, reflecting the importance of the Asian Development Bank as one of Nepal’s largest and longest-standing multilateral development partners.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the discussions focused on strengthening the six-decade development partnership between Nepal and the ADB. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across key sectors that are critical to Nepal’s economic growth and long-term development.
Deepa Dahal, Press and Research Advisor to the Prime Minister, said the half-hour meeting included discussions on governance, transparency, infrastructure, and economic development. Prime Minister Shah expressed confidence that Nepal would enter a new phase of progress through good governance, accountability, and transparent administration.
The two leaders also explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in hydropower, tourism, digitalisation, and road infrastructure. Hydropower and tourism were identified as the backbone of Nepal’s economy, with both sides recognising their potential to generate employment, attract investment, and accelerate sustainable economic growth.
ADB President Masato Kanda reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to expanding its development assistance to Nepal. He assured Prime Minister Shah that the institution would continue serving as a reliable long-term development partner, supporting the country’s efforts to achieve economic prosperity and inclusive growth.
Kanda praised Nepal’s economic potential, highlighting the country’s young leadership, strong public mandate, and ongoing reform initiatives. He said the government’s commitment to transparency and institutional reforms was encouraging and expressed confidence in Nepal’s future development prospects.
The meeting comes after Shah had declined requests for individual meetings with several senior foreign officials, including Paul Kapur, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the United States Department of State, and Sergio Gor, Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs and United States Ambassador to India. Reports also indicated that Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s planned visit to Nepal had been postponed.