KATHMANDU: Speaker Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal and the Speaker of the Australian parliament, Milton Dick, have held a meeting today.

Speaker Aryal’s Secretariat stated that during the meeting the two Speakers discussed various topics including the friendly relations between Nepal and Australia and parliamentary cooperation.

Both the Speakers are in Arusha, Tanzania to participate in the 153rd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

On that occasion, Speaker Aryal said that since Nepal and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1960, their relationship based on friendship, mutual respect, and shared democratic values has been continuously strengthening.

He thanked the Australian government for the humanitarian assistance provided and the support in the search and rescue efforts following the flood in the Bhotekoshi area. Expressing sympathy to the families of the Australian citizens who went missing in the flood, he appreciated the solidarity shown by Australia during the disaster.

Pointing out that Nepal and other mountain countries are seriously affected by climate change, Speaker Aryal hoped for Australia’s support and solidarity in international debates and initiatives related to climate change.

Speaker Aryal said that the formation of the Nepal-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group is an important basis for further strengthening parliamentary relations between the two countries. He expressed the view that bilateral relations can be further boosted through regular interactions, exchange of experiences among MPs, and parliamentary diplomacy.

During the meeting, the Australian Speaker Dick expressed that Australia is keen to further strengthen parliamentary and bilateral relations with Nepal, Speaker Aryal’s Secretariat said.