The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, returned home today after completing his two-day State visit to Nepal. President of Nepal Ramchandra Paudel had reached the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to bid farewell to the Qatari Amir.

Also, present at TIA to see off the Amir was Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang and Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, among other high officials. A contingent of the Nepali Army offered a guard of honour and fired 21 cannon salvos on the occasion.

The Emir of Qatar arrived here on Tuesday for the State Visit at President Paudel’s invitation. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the Qatari Emir Al Thani held delegation-level talks today at Soaltee Hotel. On the occasion, the two sides observed the signing and exchange of agreements/ MoUs on communications, sports, science and technology, industry, and commerce.

Two elephants born and raised at the Elephant Breeding Centre at Sauraha in Chitwan are being offered to the Qatar government as gifts under the “Conservation Policy”. Elephants, Rudrakali, six years old, and Khagendra Prasad, five years old, will be relocated to Qatar after completion of the necessary formalities.

The visit marks the first highest-level visit from the entire Middle East. This was the Emir’s first visit to Nepal after the two countries established diplomatic ties on January 21, 1977. Nepal had set up its embassy in Doha on July 11, 2000 and Qatar its embassy in Kathmandu in August 2011.

By: Sweta Singh (Nepal)