Visiting Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, John Aquilino, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka on Sunday.
Welcoming Commander Aquilino to the Ministry of Defense in Singha Durbar, Defense Minister Khadka said Nepal and the US have been enjoying a cordial relationship since the diplomatic ties were established between the two countries.
Minister Khadka thanked the US government for its financial support to Nepal in the sectors including development and expected belief that such assistance would continue in the days ahead, too.
He further said that Nepal has been contributing peacekeeping troops to the United Nations missions expressing commitments that it would continue in the future, too.
Nepal's commitment to world peace and harmony was emphasized, along with its current position as the leading contributor of peacekeepers to the UN, including the most female peacekeepers.
Underlining the Center's crucial role in training UN peacekeepers, the speaker commended US backing for its physical upgrade.
In addition, he highly praised the role played by Nepali peacekeepers in international peacekeeping operations.
Commander Aquilino expressed optimism that Nepal-US relations will not only endure but also grow stronger in the future.
During the meeting, United States Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson also expressed his belief that Nepal and the United States have been good friends for a long time and that bilateral friendly relations will become stronger in the future.
The Defense Ministry Secretary, the Major General of the Nepali Army along with the officials of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the US Embassy in Nepal were present during the meeting.
