Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud highlighted the enduring strength of the friendship treaty between Nepal and the United Kingdom, signed a century ago, as a resilient international bilateral mechanism.
Speaking at a ceremony held at Singha Darbar to mark the treaty’s centenary, Minister Saud expressed pride in Nepal’s historical decision to forge a treaty with a significant global power in 1923, a time when many nations in Africa and Asia were still struggling for political independence.
The friendship treaty, inked on December 21, 1923, solidified diplomatic relations established between Nepal and Britain in 1816. Minister Saud emphasized that Nepal, as a sovereign and independent nation, entered the treaty on the principles of equality. Over the past century, bilateral relations between Nepal and the UK have flourished across various domains, with Britain serving as a longstanding development partner. Minister Saud noted the positive trajectory of bilateral trade, tourism, and investment.
Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal underscored the pivotal role of the treaty in expanding Nepal’s international relations, leading to the establishment of Britain’s first embassy in Kathmandu. She highlighted the significance of the Nepal-UK relationship, emphasizing Britain’s major role as a development partner for Nepal.
British Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, acknowledged the treaty’s role in preventing foreign occupation in Nepal and expressed the view that Nepal, strategically located between the emerging economies of India and China, should leverage the progress made by its neighboring nations. National Security Advisor Shankardas Bairagi, Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, high-ranking government officials, ambassadors, and representatives from diplomatic missions in Kathmandu attended the commemorative ceremony.
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