New foreign minister vows stable foreign policy

KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Bimala Rai Poudel, has stated that improving public service delivery will be her main priority.

Upon assuming office after the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Poudel emphasized that increasing access for Nepalis to Nepali missions stationed abroad and forging cooperation with foreign diplomatic agencies will be her main focus. “Nepalis should feel at home when they visit our missions,” Poudel stated. ‘I will work to make that happen.”

Poudel also emphasized her commitment to making Nepal’s foreign policy stable. “I am not saying that I will change all policies. We are committed to the policy of non-alignment. Policy is not something that needs to be changed often,” she said, adding: “There are a lot of experts in the ministry. How we present ourselves in international forums reflects our image.”

Poudel also stated that it would be too early to discuss Nepal’s border disputes at this time.