Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has left for Italy. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Purna Bahadur Khadka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Narayan Kaji Shrestha, ministers and high-ranking officials of the government bade farewell to the PM at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
Likewise, CPN (Maoist Center) general secretary Dev Prasad Gurung, vice-chairpersons Agni Sapkota and Pampha Bhusal and other leaders also bade fare to the PM at the TIA. The PM is attending the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) to be held in Rome, Italy from 24 to 26 July 2023. The Prime Minister Prachanda's daughter Ganga Dahal has accompanied the PM.
Likewise, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, Member of National Planning Commission Dr Jay Kant Raut, and other senior officials of the government are also present in the delegation.
It is said that the PM is scheduled to address the official opening session of UNFSS+2 on Monday in the capacity of the Chair of LDC Group, including the Plenary Sessions on the agenda of School Meals on July 24 and Food System Transformation in Practice on July 25.
On the sidelines of the event, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with high level dignitaries of the UN system, including the Director General of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP), and the President of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), among others.
The Prime Minister will also interact with the Nepali Diaspora in Italy. PM Dahal is scheduled to return home on July 28.
First tour after 2014
This is the first visit between the two countries after 2014. In 2014, the then-foreign minister of Italy, Benedetto della Vedova, visited Nepal.
Since then there has been no high-level visit between Italy and Nepal. Prime Minister Prachanda's has been viewed with importance. Nepal established formal diplomatic relations with Italy in 1952.
After the democracy of 2007, Italy has been providing direct or indirect development assistance to Nepal.
