Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held talks with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, in New York on Saturday.

The meeting was held at the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Khanal expressed, on behalf of the government and people of Nepal, appreciation and gratitude for the solidarity and sympathy extended by the UAE government and people to communities affected by the devastating climate-induced floods in Nepal.

He also thanked the UAE for the significant humanitarian assistance it has provided to flood-affected communities and for its recent commitment to provide an additional $25 million in financial assistance.

The two ministers discussed matters of mutual interest and stressed the need to strengthen Nepal-UAE bilateral relations further and expand cooperation in areas of mutual benefit.

They also discussed labour, trade, investment, tourism, renewable energy, connectivity and multilateral cooperation under the United Nations, among other issues.

Khanal also held talks with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The two ministers discussed matters of mutual interest and concern. They exchanged views on ways to further strengthen friendly and cooperative bilateral relations between Nepal and Armenia, according to Nepal’s Permanent Mission in New York.

They emphasised the need to expand cooperation in areas of mutual benefit, including climate action, renewable energy and information technology, as well as collaboration in multilateral forums, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was held as Nepal and Armenia seek to broaden areas of bilateral cooperation and engagement at the multilateral level.