KATHMANDU: US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday at the Prime Minister’s Office, Singha Durbar. The meeting focused on discussing bilateral relations and mutual interests, according to the prime minister’s secretariat.
Prime Minister Oli expressed appreciation for the longstanding support from the US government in Nepal’s economic and social development since the 1950s. He also highlighted Nepal’s progress toward graduating from a least developed country (LDC) status by 2026 and mentioned that laws on transitional justice are being developed through political consensus.
Deputy Secretary Verma acknowledged the over seven-decade partnership between the US and Nepal, expressing pride in the United States’ role in Nepal’s development. He congratulated Nepal on nearing the end of its transitional justice process.
Verma, who arrived in Kathmandu on Friday for a two-day visit, is the highest-ranking US official to visit Nepal since KP Sharma Oli became prime minister last month. During his visit, Verma is set to review ongoing US-Nepal cooperation, explore new areas for collaboration, and discuss various aspects of the bilateral relationship.
Verma, a key figure in the Biden administration, was recently appointed as a special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He is currently the second-highest-ranking official at the US State Department.
In Nepal, Verma and his delegation are engaging with senior government officials, development professionals, and business leaders to discuss shared priorities in economic development, women’s empowerment, energy, and people-to-people connections, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
