After the return of a five-member Congressional delegation from Kathmandu, another influential US Senator is arriving in Nepal next week.

Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, will make an official visit to Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives over the next week, his office announced on Friday.

During his travel, the Senator will work to strengthen the bilateral relations with each of these nations, Hollen’s office said. “Over eight days, the Senator will host more than 50 meetings with key government officials, civil society organisations, industry leaders, non-profits, local embassy staff, and others, including Americans and Marylanders working in each nation.”

Before leaving for the tour of South Asia, Hollen held talks with Sridhar Khatri, Nepali ambassador to the United States, at his office in Capitol Hill, according to the Nepali Embassy in Washington DC.

On the occasion, the ambassador and the Senator exchanged views on various aspects of the Nepal-US relations, said the embassy. “Strengthening collaboration and partnership between the embassy and the Non-Resident Nepali Association in promoting Nepal in the areas of tourism, investment, and trade.”

In visiting Nepal, the Senator is scheduled to connect with government officials, youth leaders, parliamentarians, and entrepreneurs to further strengthen political and commercial ties between the two countries.

“He will also highlight US support for the people of Nepal, including through vital investments into the country’s health sector and power and transportation infrastructure,” said the statement by his office.

Ahead of Hollen’s visit, a five-member US Congressional delegation visited Nepal. The team was led by Mark Pocan, co-chair of the US Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and chair emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Other members of the delegation included Ted Lieu, vice-chair of the House of Democratic Caucus who is serving his fifth term in Congress and sits on the House Judiciary Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Science, Space, and Technology Committee; and Dan Timothy Kildee, member of the US House of Representatives from Michigan.

Hollen’s office said that the Senator will visit a wide array of US-supported projects and locations of cultural significance. “The goal of the trip is to strengthen the bonds between the United States and each of these countries, including through enhanced security cooperation, deepening economic ties, combating climate change, and advancing democracy and human rights.”

“On this trip, I look forward to promoting closer ties between the United States and these important countries in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region and to discussing a wide range of issues, including our mutual security interests, expanding economic opportunities for all, addressing the climate crisis, and protecting human rights,” said Senator Hollen.