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Foreign relations of Nepal

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Though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the government agency which is responsible for conducting the foreign relations of Nepal, historically, it is the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) which has exercised the authority to formulate the country's foreign policies. As a landlocked country wedged between two larger and far stronger powers, Nepal has tried to maintain good relations with both of its neighbors, People's Republic of China and Republic of India.[1] However, the relationship between Nepal and India was significantly hampered by the 2015 Nepal blockade when the Government of Nepal accused India of mimicking "Russia-Ukraine" tactics by using ethnically Indian residents of Nepal to cause unrest along Nepal's southern border. India denied the allegation and said the unrest were an internal affair.[2] For the most part though, Nepal has traditionally maintained a non-aligned policy and enjoys friendly relations with its neighboring countries and almost all the major countries of the world.

Overview

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Constitutionally, Nepal's foreign policy is to be guided by "the principles of the United Nations Charter, nonalignment, Panchsheel (five principles of peaceful coexistence), international law and the value of world peace."[3]

Nepal's most substantive international relations are perhaps with international economic institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Nepal also has strong bilateral relations with major providers of economic and military aid, such as France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States, and particularly the United Kingdom, with whom military ties date back to the nineteenth century. The country's external relations are managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office.

In its foreign policy, Nepal generally seeks to balance its relations with its large neighbors India and China in order to avoid dependency on either one.[4]: 215  Nepal's relation with China has seen a major upswing in the recent years with China now becoming Nepal's top 5 aid donor to Nepal.[5] In 2021, Indian government also announced increments of aid to Nepal by nearly 13% to $130 million, to counter China's growing footprint in Nepal. However, data on the actual disbursement of aid by the Indian government remains unclear.[6]

International disputes

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In 1955, when Nepal joined the UN, Nepal had no border disputes with either of its neighbors. Both India and China without any objections, accepted the map of Nepal filed at the UN in 1955.

However, with degradation of relations between India and China during late 1950s, Indian government initiated a 'Forward Policy' along its northern frontiers which resulted in Indian military outposts being built in all unmanned areas along India's northern border. Successive Nepali government's from 1990 onwards, have continued their objection to Indian occupation of certain Nepali territories under the guise of India's 'Forward Policy'. A joint border commission continues to work on resolving the issue of removal of Indian military outpost from Nepal's Kalapani territory. As of 2017, Nepal has border disputes with India at Lipulekh and Kalapani between Darchula district and Uttarakhand and Susta in Bihar and Nawalpur district.[7] In 2018, EPG (Eminent Persons Group), a joint committee between Nepal and India finished a report on the disputed territories between these two countries. The report is yet to be submitted to the head of governments of both countries.

International trade

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Nepal has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 11 September 2003[8] and on 24 January 2017 became the 108th WTO member to ratify the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement.[9]

Diplomatic relations

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List of countries which Nepal maintains diplomatic relations with:

 
# Country Date[10]
1   United States 25 April 1947
2   United Kingdom 16 August 1947[11]
3   India 13 June 1947
4   France 20 April 1949
5   China 1 August 1955
6   Russia 20 July 1956
7   Japan 1 September 1956
8    Switzerland 10 November 1956
9   Sri Lanka 1 July 1957
10   Egypt 16 July 1957
11   Germany 4 April 1958
12   Austria 15 August 1959
13   Italy 31 August 1959
14   Serbia 7 October 1959
15   Poland 25 November 1959
16   Thailand 30 November 1959
17   Czech Republic 26 December 1959[12]
18   Malaysia 1 January 1960
19   Philippines 12 February 1960
20   Australia 15 February 1960
21   Myanmar 19 March 1960
22   Pakistan 20 March 1960
23   Netherlands 2 April 1960
24   Laos 20 May 1960
25   Israel 1 June 1960
26   Sweden 10 June 1960
27   Indonesia 25 December 1960
28   Mongolia 5 January 1961
29   Hungary 15 January 1961
30   New Zealand 1 May 1961
31   Afghanistan 1 July 1961
32   Argentina 1 January 1962
33   Chile 1962
34   Greece 2 February 1962
35   Turkey 15 November 1962
36   Lebanon 18 August 1963
37   Belgium 19 August 1963
38   Iran 14 December 1964
39   Canada 18 January 1965
40   Jordan 20 August 1965
41   Denmark 15 December 1967
42   Bulgaria 15 April 1968
43   Romania 20 April 1968
44   Algeria 29 April 1968
45   Spain 13 May 1968
46   Iraq 30 October 1968
47   Singapore 25 March 1969
48   Sudan 11 July 1969
49   Syria 26 February 1970
50   Ethiopia 15 April 1971
51   Kuwait 25 February 1972
52   Bangladesh 8 April 1972
53   Albania 23 May 1972
54   Norway 26 January 1973
55   North Korea 15 May 1974
56   South Korea 15 May 1974
57   Finland 21 September 1974
58   Tanzania 10 January 1975
59   Morocco 18 February 1975
60   Cuba 25 March 1975
61   Cambodia 18 April 1975
62   Vietnam 15 May 1975
63   Kenya 3 June 1975
64   Mexico 25 November 1975
65   Luxembourg 25 November 1975
66   Nigeria 20 December 1975
67   Libya 30 December 1975
68   Peru 28 January 1976
69   Brazil 7 February 1976
70   Portugal 1 September 1976
71   Bahrain 13 January 1977
72   Oman 21 January 1977
73   Qatar 21 January 1977
74   United Arab Emirates 22 January 1977
75   Saudi Arabia 15 March 1977
76   Costa Rica 16 August 1977
77   Maldives 1 August 1980
78   Cyprus 18 August 1980
79   Mauritius 12 February 1981
80   Iceland 25 May 1981
81   Bhutan 3 June 1983
—   Holy See 10 September 1983
82   Malta 25 September 1983
83   Brunei 3 February 1984
84   Panama 15 February 1984
85   Tunisia 14 April 1984
86   Somalia 24 October 1984
87   Zimbabwe 27 November 1984
88   Gabon 17 June 1985
89   Yemen 25 December 1985
90   Fiji 12 June 1986
91   Zambia 10 September 1986
92   Mozambique 30 September 1986
93   Nicaragua 5 October 1986
94   Venezuela 28 April 1987
95   Colombia 7 May 1987
96   Bolivia 21 May 1987
97   Estonia 20 April 1992
98   Latvia 20 April 1992
99   Ukraine 15 January 1993
100   Armenia 26 March 1993
101   Kyrgyzstan 26 March 1993
102   Belarus 19 July 1993
103   Moldova 20 July 1993
104   Slovakia 4 March 1994
105   Guyana 2 June 1994
106   South Africa 28 July 1994
107   Azerbaijan 28 February 1995
108   Seychelles 10 October 1996
109   Slovenia 2 December 1997
110   North Macedonia 6 January 1998
111   Croatia 6 February 1998
112   Ireland 19 August 1999
113   Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 January 2000
114   Lithuania 8 February 2000
115   San Marino 10 August 2005
116   Tajikistan 13 September 2005
117   Georgia 22 September 2005
118   Turkmenistan 17 October 2005
119   Ecuador 21 June 2006
120   Paraguay 2 August 2006
121   Guatemala 8 August 2006
122   Honduras 18 August 2006
123   Vanuatu 19 September 2006
124   Andorra 22 September 2006
125   Democratic Republic of the Congo 22 September 2006
126   Haiti 23 May 2007
127   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 27 September 2007
128   Dominican Republic 28 September 2007
129   Botswana 8 January 2009
130   Mali 19 November 2009
131   Lesotho 18 May 2010
132   Montenegro 18 July 2011
133   Solomon Islands 15 December 2011
134   Uruguay 18 April 2012
135   Monaco 15 May 2012
136   Mauritania 4 December 2012
137   Tuvalu 11 December 2012
138   Samoa 28 March 2013
139   Papua New Guinea 12 April 2013
140   Kazakhstan 30 June 2015
141   Jamaica 1 October 2015
142   Guinea 12 May 2016
143   El Salvador 21 September 2016
144   Uganda 12 June 2017
145   Ivory Coast 16 June 2017
146   Djibouti 14 July 2017
147   Antigua and Barbuda 25 July 2017
148   Cape Verde 3 August 2017
149   Liberia 17 August 2017
150   Niger 20 September 2017
151   Eritrea 31 October 2017
152   Bahamas 7 November 2017
153   Liechtenstein 24 November 2017
154   Angola 9 December 2017
155   Burkina Faso 29 December 2017
156   Benin 23 January 2018
157   Uzbekistan 26 January 2018
158   Saint Kitts and Nevis 30 May 2018
159   Burundi 6 June 2018
160   Rwanda 20 July 2018
161   Madagascar 26 September 2018
162   Suriname 11 October 2018
163   Togo 22 March 2019
164   Equatorial Guinea 30 April 2019
165   Eswatini 9 May 2019
166   Saint Lucia 27 August 2019
167   Ghana 25 September 2019
168   Dominica 30 April 2021
169   Gambia 24 May 2021
170   Sierra Leone 29 June 2021
171   Barbados 8 December 2021
172   East Timor 11 February 2022
173   Palau 21 March 2022
174   South Sudan 28 March 2022
175   Belize 1 April 2022
176   Trinidad and Tobago 16 June 2022
177   Malawi 17 February 2023
178   Nauru 4 May 2023
179   Cameroon 22 June 2023
180   Marshall Islands 23 June 2023
181   Tonga 1 March 2024
182   Kiribati 17 July 2024[13]

Nepal does not maintain diplomatic relations with the following 11 UN member states:

Africa - 8 UN member states

America - 1 UN member state

Oceania / Pacific Islands - 1 UN member state

Bilateral relations

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Afghanistan

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Main article: Afghanistan–Nepal relations

Austria

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Main article: Austria–Nepal relations

Bangladesh

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Main article: Bangladesh–Nepal relations

Nepal welcomed Bangladesh's independence on 16 January 1972.[14] The turning point for the two nations occurred in April 1976, when the two nations signed, a four-point agreement on technical cooperation, trade, transit and civil aviation. They both seek cooperation in the fields of power generation and development of water resources. In 1986, relations further improved when Bangladesh insisted Nepal should be included on a deal regarding the distribution of water from the Ganges River. Also recently Nepal and Bangladesh had signed MOU's that Nepal would sell 10,000 MW of electricity to Bangladesh once its larger projects are completed.[15]

Bhutan

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Main article: Bhutan–Nepal relations

Relations with Bhutan have been strained since 1992 over the nationality and possible repatriation of refugees from Bhutan.[16]

Canada

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Many Nepalese politicians and government officials criticized Canadian diplomats in the aftermath of the Kabul attack on Canadian Embassy guards in which the majority of victims were Nepalese citizens. Members of Parliament were among those who were critical of the way that Canada treated its security contractors at the embassy, leading to meetings in Ottawa between Nepalese and Canadian diplomats, including ambassador Nadir Patel.[17]

China

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Main article: People's Republic of China – Nepal relations

Nepal formally established relations with the People's Republic of China on August 1, 1955.[18] The two countries share 1414 kilometers long border in the Himalayan range along the northern side of Nepal.[18] Nepal has established its embassy in Beijing, opened consulates general in Lhasa, Hong Kong and Guangzhou and appointed an honorary consul in Shanghai.[18]

Nepal's relations with China have grown closer following China's Belt and Road Initiative.[4]: 215 

Denmark

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See Denmark–Nepal relations.

European Union

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Main article: European Union-Nepal relations

France

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Main article: France-Nepal relations

  

Nepal and the French Republic entered into diplomatic relations on 20 April 1949.[19] Bilateral economic cooperation programme commenced in February 1981 when the two countries signed the First Protocol amounting to French Franc 50 million loan which was converted into debt in 1989.[19] Food aid and the counterpart funds that it generated have been the main form of aid since 1991.[19] Main areas of cooperation are national seismologic network, petroleum exploration, restructuring of Water Supply Corporation, the Kavre Integrated Project and Gulmi and Arghakhanchi Rural Development Project, rehabilitation of airports, 'food for work', and others.[19]

Nepal and France have signed an agreement concerning Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment in 1983.[19] The major areas of French investment are hotels, restaurants, medicine, aluminium windows and doors, vehicle body building sectors.[19] Alcatelhad became the leading supplier of the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation, with 200,000 lines installed, and fibre optic cables.[19] Cegelec secured a 24 million dollars contract in respect of the construction of Kali Gandaki hydroelectric project.[19]

The Government of Nepal awarded a contract to Oberthur Technologies of France in 2010, for printing, supply, and delivery of Machine Readable Passports.[19] A significant number of French tourists (24,097 in 2014, 16, 405 in 2015, and, 20,863 in 2016) arrive in Nepal from France each year.[19]

India

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Main article: India–Nepal relations

Israel

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King Mahendra of Nepal (second from left) in a 1958 visit to Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science.
Main article: Israel–Nepal relations

Nepal was the first and until recently the only nation in South and Central Asia to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. The bilateral relation between the two countries has been good. Traditionally, Nepal votes in favor of Israel at the UN and abstains from resolution opposed by the Israeli government barring few exceptions. Israel-Nepal relations are based on mutual security concerns.[20]

Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Prime Minister of Nepal from 1959 to 1960, had a strongly pro-Israel foreign policy. King Mahendra visited Israel in 1963 and maintained Koirala's special relationship.[21]

Japan

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Main article: Japan–Nepal relations

Nepal-Japan relations date back to the late eighteenth century.[22] The relationship became formal with the establishment of diplomatic relations on 1 September 1956.[22] The Embassy of Nepal was established in Tokyo in 1965 and Japan established its embassy in Kathmandu in 1967. Nepal has honorary consulates in Osaka and Fukuoka. Japan is one of the largest aid donors to Nepal.[23][24]

Japan is the 2nd most preferred destination for abroad study to the Nepali students.[22]

Malaysia

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Main article: Malaysia–Nepal relations

Malaysia has an embassy in Kathmandu,[25] and Nepal has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.[26] Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 January 1960,[27] with bilateral relations between Malaysia and Nepal have developed from historic grounds.[28]

Mexico

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Both nations established diplomatic relations in 1975.

  • Mexico is accredited to Nepal from its embassy in New Delhi, India and maintains an honorary consulate in Kathmandu.[29]
  • Nepal is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City.[30]

Norway

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Main article: Nepal–Norway relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 26 January 1973. Norway established an embassy in Kathmandu in 2000.[31][32] Norway's aid to Nepal was around 32 million USD in 2017. Norwegian aid prioritizes education, good governance and energy.[33]

In 2008, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim visited Nepal.[34] In 2009, Prime Minister Prachanda visited Norway.[35] In May 2008, a small bomb exploded outside the Norwegian embassy in Kathmandu. No one was injured.[36][37]

Pakistan

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Main article: Nepal–Pakistan relations

The bilateral relations between Nepal and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan were fully established between 1962 and 1963.[38]

Russia

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Main article: Nepal–Russia relations

Serbia

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  • A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded and are in force between both countries.[39]

Spain

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Main article: Nepal–Spain relations

South Korea

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Main article: Nepal–South Korea relations

In addition to the in-kind and monetary donations and emergency relief workers sent by the government of the Republic of Korea immediately after the latest earthquake in Nepal[40] the Korean government provided grant aid worth 10 million US dollars to assist with Nepal's recovery and reconstruction efforts.[41]

Turkey

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Main article: Nepal–Turkey relations

United Kingdom

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Main article: Nepal–United Kingdom relations

The first British High Commissioner to Nepal was accredited in 1947.[11]

  • Nepal maintains an embassy in London.
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Nepal through its embassy in Kathmandu.[42]

Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership,[43] and an Investment Agreement.[44]

United States

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Main article: Nepal – United States relations

Nepal and the United States established the diplomatic relations between them on 25 April 1947.[45]

 
Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "China is Our 'All Weather Friend', Says Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli".
  2. ^ Pokharel, Krishna (26 November 2015). "The Two-Month Blockade of Nepal Explained". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  3. ^ "WIPO Lex, Article 34 (21), the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007 (2063)". www.wipo.int. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b Alfred, Gerstl (2023). "China in its Immediate Neighborhood". In Kironska, Kristina; Turscanyi, Richard Q. (eds.). Contemporary China: a New Superpower?. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-03-239508-1.
  5. ^ "China increases aid, FDI significantly to Nepal". Business Standard India. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  6. ^ "India raises Nepal grant by nearly 13 percent to Rs15.87 billion". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  7. ^ Groves, Stephen. "India and Nepal Tackle Border Disputes". The Diplomat. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  8. ^ WTO, WTO Ministerial Conference approves Nepal's membership, 11 September 2003, accessed 25 January 2017
  9. ^ Nepal ratifies the Trade Facilitation Agreement, 24 January 2017
  10. ^ "Bilateral Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b "No. 38192". The London Gazette. 30 January 1948. p. 742.
  12. ^ Petruf, Pavol. Československá zahraničná politika 1945 – 1992 (in Slovak). pp. 99–119.
  13. ^ "Nepal establishes diplomatic relations with Kiribati". 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Bangladesh Gains in Favor". Sarasota, Florida, US. United Press International. 17 January 1972.
  15. ^ "Nepal And Bangladesh, A Strong Relationship". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  16. ^ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Nepal.pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  17. ^ Pandey, Lekhanath (26 June 2016). "Nepal seeks answers from Canada on Kabul suicide bombing attack". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  18. ^ a b c "Nepal-China Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA". mofa.gov.np. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Nepal - France Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA". mofa.gov.np. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  20. ^ Visit to Israel of Honorable Mrs. Sahana Pradhan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  21. ^ Abadi, Jacob. Israel's Quest for Recognition and Acceptance in Asia: Garrison State Diplomacy, 2004. Page 318.
  22. ^ a b c "Nepal-Japan Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA". mofa.gov.np. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  23. ^ Anbarasan, Ethirajan (22 September 2004). "Analysis: India's Security Council seat bid". BBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  24. ^ "Japan writes off Nepalese debt". BBC News. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  25. ^ "Official Website of Embassy of Malaysia, Kathmandu". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  26. ^ "Embassy of Nepal". Embassy of Nepal, Kuala Lumpur. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  27. ^ "Nepal-Malaysia Relationship". Embassy of Nepal, Kuala Lumpur. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  28. ^ "Bilateral Relations (Nepal-Malaysia)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  29. ^ "Embassy of Mexico in India".
  30. ^ "Embassy of Nepal in the United States".
  31. ^ "Norwegian Development Cooperation with Nepal (Norway - the official site in Nepal)". Archived from the original on 6 September 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  32. ^ "Norwegian Embassy in Nepal". Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  33. ^ "Development Cooperation". Norgesportalen. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  34. ^ Nepal's Prime Minister visits Norway April 10, 2009
  35. ^ "Nepali PM to leave for Europe _English_Xinhua". Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  36. ^ "Politics/Nation". The Times Of India. 17 May 2008.
  37. ^ "Nepal travel advice". Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  38. ^ "Nepal – Pakistan and Bangladesh". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  39. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Asia Pacific". www.mofa.go.kr. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  41. ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Press Releases". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  42. ^ "British Embassy Kathmandu". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  43. ^ Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (17 July 2023). "Country and regional development partnership summaries". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Nepal - United Kingdom BIT (1993)". UN Trade and Development. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  45. ^ "Nepal - US Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA".
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