Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Wednesday held a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gyawali and Pompeo shared experiences in the fight against Covid-19 and offered sympathies and condolences on the loss of human lives due to the pandemic.

“The foreign minister and the secretary of state appreciated each other’s governments for the protection and care provided to their nationals,” said the statement.

According to the ministry, the two leaders also discussed the importance of development partnership between the two countries

“Minister Gyawali appreciated the support provided by the US government to Nepal’s health sector, among others, through the projects related to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the ministry. “Secretary of State Pompeo assured Nepal of continued US cooperation.”

The telephone conversation between Gyawali and Pompeo comes at a time when the fate of the Millenium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact, a US-led programme with $500 million grants to Nepal, hangs in the balance due to opposition from some leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party.

A section of the ruling party in Nepal is against the parliamentary ratification of the US programmes, saying such a move undermines Nepal’s sovereignty.

Those opposing the MCC say Nepal should not accept it without some amendments to its clauses as it entails some security components as it is part of Washington’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Indo-Pacific Strategy is a new strategic initiative undertaken by the Trump administration that focuses on developing opportunities across a range of issues across the broader pan-Asian region.

It was not immediately clear whether Gyawali and Pompeo also spoke about the MCC during their conversation.

Secretary Pompeo said that he looks forward to further strengthening the US-Nepal ties.

“Great speaking with Nepali Foreign Minister  @PradeepgyawaliK today on a number of issues, including our ongoing COVID-19 cooperation,” Pompeo wrote on Twitter. “I look forward to further strengthening the U.S.-Nepal relationship.”

Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said during the conversation, the two sides expressed confidence that cooperation will continue to grow in the post-Covid context with an enhanced level of economic partnership.