Ambassadors/Heads of Diplomatic Mission resident in Kathmandu paid a joint courtesy call on Prime Minister Balendra Shah at his Office in Singha Durbar today.
Present were ambassadors and heads of mission from India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Switzerland, Egypt, and the United Nations. Eleven additional Kathmandu-based ambassadors are scheduled for a follow-up meeting.
Almost all envoys expressed support for the new government. Some indicated their countries were developing new cooperation plans, though details were not disclosed. “We found an air of optimism in the meeting,” said one official who attended, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The international community sits on our side. The only thing is how we capitalise that goodwill in this difficult time.”
The Ambassadors/Heads of Missions congratulated the Prime Minister and conveyed greetings and messages from their respective heads of state/government. They also expressed support and cooperation to the new Government in delivering results for the benefit of Nepali people.
Reiterating Nepal’s balanced and pragmatic foreign policy, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of deepening relations with immediate neighbours, friendly countries and development partners based on trust, mutual respect and shared prosperity. He expressed appreciation for the continued goodwill and support extended to Nepal’s development efforts.
Saying that peace must remain our shared priority, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance the Government attaches to the safety, security and wellbeing of Nepali workers and the larger Nepali diaspora abroad.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the Government’s determination to ensure good governance, achieve economic development and improve livelihood of Nepali people.
Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal, Political Advisor to the Prime Minister Asim Shah, Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and other Government officials were present on the occasion.
On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately briefed all Cabinet ministers on Nepal’s diplomatic code of conduct for the first time since its enforcement in 2011.
Together, these back-to-back moves amount to the most deliberate reset of Nepal’s diplomatic posture in years, foreign policy observers said, a signal that the new government intends to consolidate foreign policy authority, reduce mixed messaging, and move from personality-driven engagement with the international community towards a more coherent, state-led approach.
