Foreign Minister Dr. Rana Meets German Counterpart in Berlin

Kathmandu: Foreign Minister of Nepal, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, held a bilateral meeting with German Foreign Minister Dr. Johann David Wadephul in Berlin, focusing on enhancing Nepal-Germany relations and addressing shared priorities. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade, development, tourism, climate change, and multilateral support.

Minister Dr. Rana expressed gratitude to Germany for being one of Nepal’s oldest and largest development partners, acknowledging its longstanding support in economic, social, and other sectors. 

She emphasized the need to further boost bilateral trade and urged for stronger private sector collaboration between the two countries. She also called on Germany to invest in key areas such as chemical fertilizer production in Nepal.

Highlighting Nepal’s upcoming graduation from the least developed country category in 2026, Dr. Rana informed her German counterpart about Nepal’s strategy to ensure a smooth and sustainable transition. She sought Germany’s continued support in terms of financial resources, technology, and partnership through the European Union and other international platforms.

Minister Dr. Rana also requested Germany’s support for Nepal’s candidacies in several multilateral bodies, including the UN Human Rights Council (2027–2029), the Economic and Social Council (2029–2031), and the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member (2037–2038). Minister Wadephul assured her of Germany’s support.

Tourism was another key topic of discussion. Minister Dr. Rana mentioned that although Germany is Nepal’s second-largest tourist source in Europe, the full potential of tourism cooperation remains untapped due to the absence of direct flights. 

She requested Germany’s help in establishing direct air connectivity and urged support in lifting the EU ban on Nepali airlines. She informed that Nepal has introduced two new bills in parliament to reform its civil aviation sector in line with EU and ICAO recommendations, and appealed to Germany, as a key EU member, to advocate for the ban’s removal. Minister Wadephul responded positively and assured Nepal of Germany’s assistance on this matter.

Finally, Dr. Rana raised concerns about the severe impacts of climate change on Nepal and called for Germany’s support in Nepal’s advocacy for climate justice.