Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, currently in France, held a bilateral meeting with French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Maurice Gourdault-Montagne at the latter’s office in Paris on Tuesday.

The two officials discuss various issues of common concern including Nepal-France bilateral relations, the Nepali Embassy in Paris said.

The two officials reviewed the major areas of existing co-operation between the two countries and explored the ways to boost further co-operation including through exchange of high-level visits and enhancement of economic engagements.

Both officials agreed to observe next year the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and France with programmes befitting the long-standing friendship, the embassy statement said.

Bairagi acknowledged France’s support and co-operation extended to Nepal’s development efforts. He also shared with his French counterpart the major priorities of the government of Nepal and expressed Nepal government’s willingness to have an enhanced level of engagements with France.

Gourdault-Montagne assured Bairagi of continued French support to Nepal’s development aspirations both through bilateral and multilateral channels. The discussion focused on enhancing co-operation and collaboration at forums such as the United Nations.

Nepal’s Ambassador to France Ambika Devi Luintel, other embassy officials and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accompanied Bairagi at the meeting.

Foreign Secretary arrived in Paris on Saturday to take part in the commemorative event of the Centenary of 1918 Armistice and Paris Peace Forum hosted by the French President. He participated in the commemorative event and the luncheon hosted by the French President.