On 19 January 2012, Mr. Dornath Aryal, Charge d’Affaires of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, as representative of the Government and People of Nepal, donated 25,000 USD to the Thai Government via Mr. Jullapong Nonsrichai, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, as part of the humanitarian relief assistance to flood victims in Thailand as well as to assist the Thai Government with the rehabilitation and recovery of the country.
Vice-Minister Jullapong extended his heartfelt appreciation to the Government and People of Nepal for the kind gesture, which indeed reflected the close and cordial relations both countries shared. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will forward the donation to the Thai authorities concerned. Vice-Minister Jullapong also took the opportunity to inform the Charge d’Affaires of the Thai Government’s rehabilitation and recovery project, which is now in the process of implementation, as well as measures the Thai Government will undertake to prevent future floods from occurring.
Both sides also exchanged views on overall bilateral relations between Thailand and Nepal. Vice-Minister Jullapong suggested that the two countries expand cooperation, especially in the areas of trade and investment as well as in medical tourism. The Charge d’Affaires agreed and further stated that both countries shared similarities in culture and tradition and presently, there are more people-to-people contact, with daily flights operating between Bangkok and Kathmandu, and around 50,000 Thai tourists embark on religious trips to Nepal each year.
Thailand and Nepal established diplomatic relations in 1959 and will celebrate its 53th Anniversary in 2012. In this regard, both countries have enjoyed good relations throughout this time and the Charge d’Affaires proposed a high-level visit from Bangkok to Lumbini as part of Nepal’s Lumbini Visit Year in 2012.