During the meeting held at Prime Minister Koirala's official residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday, bilateral relations between Nepal and Norway and development assistance, among other issues were discussed.

The meeting also focused on the Norwegian assistance to Nepal's alternative energy, hydropower, education and good governance sectors, Mr Hoglund told media after the meeting.

On the occasion, PM Koirala thanked Norway for its support to Nepal, and expressed hopes that assistance would be continued in the future too.

Likewise, Hoglund also called on Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Nilam KC at the latter's office in Singha Durbar today.

During the meeting the duo discussed Nepal-Norway ties and bilateral cooperation. They discussed the issues of women rights including women empowerment, child education, and good governance, according to the Ministry.

Earlier, the Norwegian State Secretary also met Raj Kishor Kshetri, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and inquired on the hydro-power development and Norway's support in the power development sector.

Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Kjell Tormod Pettersen and senior officers at the Embassy accompanied Hogland in the meetings.

Norway keen to assist in hydroelectricity

Norway has expressed its desire to increase investment for the promotion of Nepal's hydro power sector considered the backbone of the country's economic development.

The visiting State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Morten Hoglund, expressed this during his meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singha Durbar today.

"In the meeting with me, Norway showed its special interest on Nepal's democracy, promotion of good governance and education, and development," Minister Pandey told RSS.

Minister Pandey said that the State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed him that his country was going to file candidature in the United Nations Security Council and that he expected of Nepal's cooperation and support to that end.

Nepal and Norway had established diplomatic ties in 1973 AD. Since then, Norway has been extending assistance to Nepal's socio-economic development.

Norway has been extending assistance to Nepal focusing on basic and primary education, hydroelectricity, energy, human rights, decentralization, peace building, good governance and the promotion of the private sector. The Norwegian assistance has also been used significantly on rural electrification.

Norway has also been providing cooperation to Nepal through the Norwegian International Cooperation Agency (NORAD) in Nepal's development endeavours. NORAD has been providing scholarships for production of skilled human resources at different times.Norway has provided over 30 million Norwegian Kroner in the Peace Fund. RSS