New York, September 23 (AseanAll)  — On the sidelines of the High-level Week of the 79th UN General Assembly Session in New York, United States, on Sunday, 22 September 2024, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had a meeting with Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

At the outset of the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers signed 2 (two) bilateral agreements, namely the RI-Nepal Diplomatic and Service Visa Free Agreement (PBVDD) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of RI-Nepal Bilateral Consultation Mechanism.

"These two agreements will intensify interaction between government officials of the two countries, as well as enhance bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Nepal, especially in the fields of trade, investment, and tourism," Retno said.

During the bilateral meeting held at the office of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York, the two Foreign Ministers discussed a number of important bilateral issues related to cooperation in the fields of renewable energy development, strategic industries, tourism, clean water management, democratic forums, and support for each country's candidacy in multilateral forums. In addition, the two Foreign Ministers also discussed joint efforts that can be made by both countries in advancing women's rights in Afghanistan.

In her remarks, the Nepalese Foreign Minister expressed her appreciation for the strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Nepal, and hopes that cooperation between the two countries can continue to be enhanced. In particular, the Nepalese Foreign Minister invited Indonesian investment in tourism and hydropower development in Nepal.

Retno welcomed the cooperation agreement between Indonesia and Nepal, and expressed her hope that the cooperation can produce concrete results that benefit the people of both countries.