KATHMANDU, June 26: South Korea's newly appointed ambassador to Nepal, Park Taeyoung, today paid a courtesy call on National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina.
During the meeting held at the Singh Durbar-based Office of the National Assembly Chairperson, the two exchanged views on the relations between Nepal and the Republic of Korea, tourism, economic development and so on.
Timilsina expressed hope that the bilateral ties between Nepal and South Korea would be further consolidated in the days to come. He insisted on the need for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in the upcoming year, focusing on Nepal's tourism and economic development.
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Stating that the assistance from South Korea to Nepal was significant, Timilsina urged South Korea to expand its manufacturing companies in Nepal, too, assessing its comparative benefits for both countries.
He expected to see Korea's investment in Nepal's hydropower, agricultural and tourism industries in the future. He also urged the Korean side to facilitate the operation of the Nepal Airlines direct flight to Korea.
The ambassador said the number of Nepali workers in South Korea's labor market is significant and urged the government of Nepal to build an atmosphere so that they could utilize their skills and knowledge in the industrial sector after returning from there. He expressed his concern over the investment of remittance from South Korea in real estate and the purchase of motor vehicles instead of other productive and income-generating areas.
"Nepali workers in Korea are decent, hardworking and disciplined," he said, expressing his hope that the number of Nepalis joining South Korea's labor market would rise in the future.
On the occasion, the ambassador shared with Timilsina that South Korea had scheduled a special event to mark the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Nepal next year.
He also said that a Korea-Nepal Friendship Group has been formed in the Korean parliament, hoping that Nepal, too, would follow this culture soon. Citing Nepal as a nation rich in water resources, he said the South Korean government was interested in investing in Nepal's hydropower sector.
