UN Secretary-General Guterres arrives in Kathmandu

By Bhishma Raj Ojha, Kathmandu, Oct 29: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Kathmandu today for four days official visit.

Minster for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud greeted the UN Secretary-General in the VVIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. Along with foreign minister high ranking officials of the Government of Nepal and representatives of the UN Office in Nepal greeted him.

Besides, the Nepal Army offered a guard of honour to Secretary-General Guterres.     

Guterres' visit to Nepal took place at the invitation of Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.     

On the first day of his visit on Sunday, Secretary-General Guterres is scheduled to have a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel at the Office of the President and PM Prachanda at the Prime Minister's office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.     

The Secretary-General will have separate meetings with Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli at the New Baneshwor-based Federal Parliament Building.     

Likewise, Guterres is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minster duo, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Narayankaji Shrestha.     

Following the meetings, he will observe the Patan Durbar Square, a heritage site of historical and archeological importance.     

Prime Minister Prachanda will host a banquet reception on Sunday evening in honour of Secretary-General Guterres.     

In course of his visit, the Secretary-General will move to Namche, Pokhara, Annapurna Base Camp and Lumbini on Monday.     

According to the Parliament Secretariat, he is scheduled to address the joint session of the federal parliament at 4.00 pm on Tuesday.     

Guterres, who is scheduled to visit Nepal first after assuming the UN Secretary-General post in 2017, will discuss the matters relating to the peace process, sustainable development and climate change, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed.     

The high-level visit of the UN Secretary-General taking place after a hiatus of around 15 years has been taken with importance. (RSS)