New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, on Wednesday paid separate courtesy calls on President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as he arrived in Kathmandu for an official visit to Nepal.

Deputy Prime Minister Peters called on President Paudel at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas. The two discussed the longstanding bilateral relationship and exchanged views on mutual interests and cooperation.

President Paudel expressed his appreciation for the historic and friendly ties between Nepal and New Zealand, citing the legacy of collaboration through initiatives like the Himalayan Trust and educational exchanges.

He also underscored the value of people-to-people ties and expressed hope for stronger relations through international partnerships.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Oli at Baluwatar, the two leaders discussed enhancing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in areas such as agriculture, tourism, education, trade, and investment.

According to the prime minister’s secretariat, both sides acknowledged the potential for deeper collaboration across these sectors.

Prime Minister Oli briefed Peters on the government’s national priorities, highlighting the pursuit of prosperity through political stability, good governance, economic development, social justice, and transformation under the national vision of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.”

Peters, in response, commended Nepal’s development efforts and stressed the importance of solidarity and collaboration among small nations on global platforms. He reiterated New Zealand’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Nepal in mutually beneficial areas.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at both meetings.

The longstanding friendship between the two nations was also recalled, especially the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953—a symbol of enduring bilateral goodwill.