Australian House Speaker Milton Dick on Wednesday called on his Nepali counterpart Devraj Ghimire.

During a meeting at Singha Durbar, the officials exchanged their experiences in the respective federal Houses, strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries among other issues.

Acknowledging the democratic and diverse nature of both nations, the Speaker emphasised the need for further increasing dialogues between the two countries and expanding cooperation to strengthen democratic systems, values, and institutions.

Ghimire further said that he believed that such high-level visits to Nepal would help strengthen relations between Nepal and Australia.

Expressing his happiness on the re-establishment of the Parliamentary Friendship Group in Australia, Speaker Ghimire added that he believed the recently formed Nepal-Australia Friendship Group would make the relationship between the two parliaments more dynamic.

Ghimire also stressed that the trade and investment between the two nations would gain momentum if a proper framework is agreed upon at the earliest.

The Speaker also urged the Australian government to provide attractive scholarships to Nepali students travelling to the Oceanian nation to pursue higher education.

In a meeting earlier in the day, National Assembly chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina had also stressed the need for efforts to establish direct flights between the two nations, given that more than 122,000 Nepalis live in Australia, of whom 60,000 are students.

Talking about the diplomatic relations between the two countries established in 1960, the national assembly chair added that the mutual trust, understanding, and assistance between the two nations had grown in recent years.

Speaker Dick emphasised the need to develop relations at a citizen level. He also added that Australia would stand with Nepal in its development partnership and campaign against climate change.

Dick expressed his happiness on the upcoming visit of his Nepali counterpart and deputy speaker to Australia to study the functioning of the federal system in Australia.

He also expressed his belief that Australia’s experience in implementing federalism would be fruitful for Nepal as well.