The government on Thursday approved the visit of President Ram Chandra Poudel to Switzerland and Germany. This is Poudel’s first official visit after he took the office on March 23 last year.

Minister for Information and Communication Technology Rekha Sharma said that Thursday’s Cabinet meeting approved the President’s upcoming visit to Switzerland and Germany.

Sharma said the President will first travel to Switzerland to participate in the 112th session of the International Labour Organization. After completing his engagements in Geneva, the President will visit Germany. Poudel will address an event called “Global Coalition for Social Justice” in Geneva and meet some political figures.

In November last year, Paudel was all set to visit France, Italy and Germany, but the plan was postponed due to an earthquake in Rukum West and Jajarkot districts. At least 153 people died, hundreds were injured, and thousands were displaced by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rocked areas beyond the two districts of Karnali Province.

The President and the Nepali delegation will leave for Switzerland on June 12. On June 13, the President will address the 112th session of the International Labour Organization in Geneva on the topic of social justice, said a senior foreign ministry official.

A minister, senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and officials at the president's office will accompany the president on these visits.

Officials at the Nepali Embassy in Geneva are instructed to prepare for other engagements, including his meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd, and other senior Swiss government officials.

After completing the engagements in Switzerland, the President and his entourage will embark on a visit to Germany on June 16.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of German President Frank Wanter Steinmeier. Paudel will stay in Germany for three days as the German president's guest. Visits to both European nations are “official goodwill,” said the foreign ministry officials. As of now, no agreement or understanding has been agreed upon for signing.