A welcome dinner was hosted in Kathmandu to honour newly accredited non-resident ambassadors to Nepal and their spouses, bringing together diplomats, lawmakers, senior officials, and representatives of international organisations to celebrate Nepal’s growing diplomatic engagement.
The newly accredited non-resident ambassadors to Nepal were High Commissioner of the Gambia Mustapha Jawara, Ambassador of Algeria Abdenor Khelifi, Ambassador of Slovenia Tomaž Mencin, along with his spouse Darja Zorkomencin, and Ambassador of Canada to Nepal Christopher Cooter.
Delivering the keynote address, Amb. Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal welcomed the distinguished gathering on behalf of four institutions —Ambassadors Club Nepal, the International Relations and Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD), The Diplomat Nepal, and Diplomatic Academy Nepal (DAN) —which she heads as the president.
The President of the Ambassadors Club Nepal and IRGDD, Dr. Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal , said the event was not only to acknowledge formal credentials but also to celebrate a shared commitment to dialogue, dignity and collective progress among the diplomatic community.
Dr. Sarmila, who was a former ambassador to Spain and Oman, noted that the presence of non-resident ambassadors to Nepal would enrich Nepal’s diplomatic landscape and strengthen cooperation based on shared values and future possibilities. Highlighting Nepal’s bilateral ties, Dr. Sarmila said relations with the Gambia reflect South-South cooperation, with Algeria rooted in solidarity through the Non-Aligned Movement, with Slovenia strengthened by shared aspirations for sustainable innovation, and with Canada shaped by over six decades of friendship grounded in democratic values and multilateralism.
She described Nepal as being at a transformative moment, driven by a new generation eager to translate potential into prosperity. She said Ambassadors Club Nepal and IRGDD serve as independent platforms promoting international cooperation and enhancing Nepal’s soft power through economic and cultural diplomacy.
Dr. Sarmila also highlighted the role of Track 1.5 and Track 2 diplomacy in creating inclusive dialogue beyond formal channels and invited the newly accredited envoys to use the platform for deeper engagement. She noted that the organisations maintain active engagement with more than 85 non-resident embassies based in New Delhi and missions in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Referring to recent outreach efforts, Ambassador Dhakal shared that engagements in Japan and the Republic of Korea focused on collaboration in technology, innovation, cultural diplomacy and sustainable development. She also highlighted the establishment of Diplomatic Academy Nepal and the Diplo-Tech approach integrating diplomacy with technology, as well as the global reach of the publication The Diplomat Nepal. On the occasion, all newly accredited non-resident ambassadors and their spouses were recognised as honorary members of the Ambassadors Club Nepal.
Dr. Sarmila also called for building enduring bridges of trust, cooperation and friendship, expressing confidence that the diplomats’ presence would contribute to strengthening Nepal’s international partnerships.
During the event, Ambassador of Slovenia Mencin stated that he was more than happy to contribute to Slovenia-Nepal relations. “It is a really great occasion to meet you all. It’s our common objective to make friendly and peaceful relations between nations and we are more than ready to contribute as much as possible to friendly relations among all of us,” he said.
High Commissioner of the Gambia Mustapha Jawara said it was his first time in Nepal and he was trying to forge collaborations between the two countries. He added, “When we visit again, we will inform you in advance. So that you can pave the way for us. There are a lot of opportunities in Nepal that the Gambia High Commission in Delhi, the Gambia Embassy would try to explore.” Ambassador of Algeria Khelifi said he was happy to be part of the program and will collaborate to enhance relations between Nepal and Algeria. “This is my first visit to Nepal, and it was a wonderful time out here. And I am looking for more engagement in future,” he added. All three ambassadors thanked the organiser for the wonderful program.
The programme was attended by Member of Parliament Khusbu Sarkar Shrestha and spouse Samina Shrestha; Press Advisor to the President Kiran Kumar Pokharel; Pushkar Sapkota, Member-Secretary (Law and Human Rights Sector) at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and his spouse Chandra Sapkota; Amb. Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary, United Nations and International Organizations Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Illa Mainali, Joint Secretary, Office of the President of Nepal; Mishal Mohammed Al Ansari, Ambassador of Qatar to Nepal; Md. Shafiqur Rahman, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal; Sherif Mostafa Al Sayed Aldiwany, Ambassador of Egypt to Nepal, along with his beloved spouse, Hanan Ebdelall; Ruwanthi Delpitiya, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal; Fahd Mohammad Ajmi Mnikhr, Ambassador of the Saudi Arabia to Nepal; Mohd Firdaus bin Azman, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Malaysia in Nepal, along with his spouse, Munirah Anis Binti Mansor; Hari Bhakta Sharma, Honorary Consul General of Slovenia to Nepal; Karan Vaidya, Honorary Consul of Latvia to Nepal; Bimal Dhakal, Publisher of The Diplomat Nepal magazine; Kali Prasad Pokhrel, Vice-president of International Relations; Counsellor Penda Nije and Finance Attaché Buba Kinteh of the Gambia High Commission office in India.
The evening concluded with networking and a cultural performance by Nepali musical band Sursudha.
