Qatari Emir Al Thani returns home

Wrapping up his two-day state visit to Nepal, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani returned home today.

President Ram Chandra Poudel had reached the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to bid farewell to the Qatari Emir.

Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 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 were also present at TIA to see off the Emir.

A contingent of the Nepali Army offered a guard of honor and fired 21 cannon salvoes on the occasion.

The Qatari Emir arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday for the state visit at the cordial invitation of President Paudel.

Qatari Emir Al Thani and President Paudel held talks at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas the same day.

President Paudel hosted a banquet in the Emir's honor the same evening.

Prime Minister Dahal and the Qatari Emir held a delegation-level meeting today. The two countries signed an agreement and five memoranda of understanding on various areas of cooperation on the occasion.

This is 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.