Nepal–Portugal Bilateral Consultation Mechanism Holds First Meeting in Lisbon

The first meeting of the Nepal–Portugal Bilateral Consultation Mechanism is being held in Lisbon on Friday, marking an important step toward enhancing relations between Nepal and Portugal.

The meeting is reviewing the overall status of Nepal–Portugal relations, including matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation in regional and multilateral forums.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, who serves as Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has arrived in Lisbon to co-chair the meeting, leading the Nepali delegation.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary is also scheduled to meet senior officials of Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officially inaugurate the newly opened Nepali Embassy in Lisbon, and interact with representatives of the Nepali community residing in Portugal, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Lisbon.

It is estimated that more than 40,000 Nepali nationals are currently living in Portugal, working across various professions and contributing to both countries’ socio-economic ties.

The Nepali delegation includes senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Nepal’s Ambassador to Portugal, Prakash Mani Poudel, and other embassy officials.

Foreign Secretary Rai is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on February 22.

The Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and Portugal was established in 2018 to promote regular dialogue and deepen cooperation across diverse sectors.