Kathmandu, April 23 (QNA) - HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's visit to Nepal will give the two countries opportunities for further multi-field cooperation and boost the bonds of friendship, said HE President of Nepal Ram Chandra Poudel, stressing that the two countries have a long standing relationship, enriched by friendliness and cooperation which is steadily growing and also expanding with the passage of time.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency added that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is making his first official visit to Nepal, hailing HH the Amir as a "visionary leader" and this is clear in the enormous progress of Qatar and efforts in establishing peace in the Middle East under His Highness' leadership, adding: "This visit shall provide us (with) to make strides in our socio-economic engagements and also an occasion to strengthening bonds of friendship." His Excellency hailed the cordial Qatar-Nepal relations based on "friendliness, mutual trust, support and cooperation" since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1977. He added that "the Government of Nepal always attaches high importance to its relation with the State of Qatar." Highlighting Qatar's unwavering support for his country, His Excellency expressed appreciation for Doha's assistance when "Nepal was devastated by earthquake in 2015 followed by COVID-19 pandemic", a gesture of deep and warm relations between the two countries. "I'd like to thank His Highness and the government of the State of Qatar once again for this assistance," His Excellency said.
Commenting on the future of bilateral relations and important areas of cooperation between the two countries, His Excellency highlighted the great successes in their cooperation in the areas of labor employment, air connectivity, tourism, legal, economic and technical cooperation, as well as the exchange of high-level visits and the strengthening of relations between the peoples of the two countries. "We will give continuity to these domains of cooperation, yet with higher degree of zeal," His Excellency told QNA.
He added that bilateral cooperation will cover other global issues, primarily the environmental challenges. He said, "On top of that, the issue of climate change has been a major concern for both of us and also to protect the mother Earth collectively. "The global warming has adversely been affecting the Mount Everst and adjoining Himalayas, a major source of fresh water in the region...All this (cooperation) will help elevate our bilateral relations to the next level".
Regarding his evaluation of bilateral agreements to protect workers rights, improve their conditions, and the contribution of Nepalese workers to supporting the Nepalese economy, His Excellency hailed Qatar's extensive reforms to strengthen labor laws and increase protection for workers, spotlighting the reforms' positive impact on the protection of workers and promoting their interests, as well as regulating the supply of Nepali manpower to Qatar.
"As a result, Nepali migrant workers have largely got benefitted from the reforms and thereby an ensuing positive effect in the Nepalese economy by dint of the remittance," His Excellency said.
At the end of his interview with QNA, His Excellency referred to an agreement signed by Qatar and Nepal in 2005 concerning Nepali manpower employment in Qatar and its additional protocol signed in 2008. (QNA)