The Wellington Nepalese community had the pleasure of hosting an unexpected visitor last week – Mr. Narayan Prakash Saud, the Foreign Minister of Nepal. His visit was both smooth and brief, coinciding with the onset of the new year the Lunar Year of the Dragon. This added to the festive atmosphere, filling the air with auspicious hopes for the future. The minister and his delegation arrived in New Zealand after their stops in Perth and Canberra.
They engaged in a quick and amicable session with members of the Nepalese community, facilitating an exchange of questions and answers. This marked a significant and appreciated opportunity for the community, fostering anticipation for more such interactions in the future. During this insightful session, two noteworthy points emerged. Firstly, the ambassador commended the distinctive profile of the Nepalese community in Wellington, praising their purposefulness and thoughtful approach in pursuing their dreams. Secondly, the community expressed their aspirations to the Foreign Minister.
They sought more results-oriented actions and hassle-free provisions to support their educational and career pursuits, as well as their contributions to both the Nepalese economy and the strengthening of ties between the two countries. Thirdly, the foreign minister emphasized the transformative impact of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic ascent of the world’s highest peak on Nepal’s mountaineering and tourism sectors. Additionally, he highlighted how this achievement strengthened the grassroots-level ties between New Zealand and Nepal. The minister encouraged the Nepalese people to recognize their role as honorary ambassadors, representing their country with pride in New Zealand.
The minister reassured the community that he is committed to prioritizing the establishment of formal procedures to recognize the First Everest Ascent day by Hillary and Tenzing. His goal is to suggest the NZ government to designate this significant day as a national day officially.
In this brief Q&A session with the minister, the community’s concerns and suggestions were addressed. The foreign minister acknowledged their wishes while explaining the challenges of establishing embassies worldwide for a country like Nepal. Nevertheless, he assured them that the country remained committed to serving its citizens abroad and supporting their contributions to their homeland in every feasible way.
