Visiting German Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety Barbara Hendricks said on Wednesday that the local elections would help deepen democracy at the grassroots in Nepal.

“As a German minister, I would not say how Nepal should organise elections, but I would urge Nepali citizens to go out and vote in the elections,” said she told a media briefing at the end of her four-day visit to Nepal.

The objectives of my visit, Hendricks explained, was to further strengthen the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Nepal and Germany, and to get first-hand information on the progress made in environment and forestry related development projects supported by the government of Germany in Nepal.

While in Nepal, Minister Hendricks held meetings with Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Shankar Bhandari and Minister for Environment Jaya Dev Joshi.

The meeting with the Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation focused on the measures for conservation of natural resources, biodiversity and challenges posed by climate change. Appreciating Nepal’s community forestry model, she said the country could proudly share its expertise with the world. “With its rich biodiversity, Nepal has a competitive advantage in the sectors of wild life conservation and climate resilient skills for mountainous countries,” she said, adding that Germany was eager to support a Himalayan Regional Conference on Soil Conservation in Kathmandu this year.

Minister Bhandari thanked the people and government of Germany for the support extended to Nepal’s development process.

On the occasion, he requested German support for Nepal’s candidacy in United Nations Human Rights Council. The German minister assured of all possible support to Nepal, saying that she would try to convince the concerned ministry in Germany upon her return. Minister Bhandari also raised the point of possible cooperation in developing football in Nepal.

The German side requested Nepal to become a signatory to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species. Nepal has already signed the Asian treaty on the protection of migratory birds and animals.

At the meeting with Minister Joshi, Minister Hendricks discussed issues related to climate change and its impact in the livelihoods of the people.

The two sides emphasised on the necessity for the two countries to work together on developing climate smart technologies for farmers. She left Kathmandu for Bhutan on Wednesday.