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President Ram Chandra Paudel has requested Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar to help release Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who has gone missing since the attack by Hamas in Israel.

President Paudel made this request during a bilateral meeting held with the Qatari Emir at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas earlier this afternoon.

At the cordial invitation of President Paudel, Emir Al Thani of Qatar arrived here this afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal.

On the occasion, President Paudel said that Bipin's release was a matter of interest and concern and urged the Emir of Qatar to take initiative for his release, according to Kiran Pokharel, the President's Press Advisor.

In response, the Emir of Qatar said that he had taken some initiative on the matter in the past and that he would take further initiatives in this regard.

Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student in Israel, remains missing following the attack in Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from climate change impacts, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance.

President Paudel said so at a meeting with the Qatari Emir Al Thani at the Office of the President in Sheetal Niwas earlier today.

The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Kathmandu this afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal at the invitation of President Paudel.

"The common challenge of today's world is saving the earth from climate change; protecting our Himalayas; preserving the source of water and maintaining the environmental balance. Cooperation of all is imperative in these areas. This is an issue of human existence. I think mostly the developing countries should be more serious in such issues,” President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying.

The President also said that the conflict in the Middle East has 'made us worried', Pokharel said. 

Likewise, President Paudel praised the role played by Qatar for peace building and wished for the end to the war and restoration of peace in the Middle East.

On the occasion, the Emir of the State of Qatar Al Thani said the entire world is suffering from climate change impacts, and good results will come and a good environment will be created if all abided by the international agreements on climate change.

He also expressed the confidence that his visit would be fruitful to explore new areas of cooperation by further deepening Nepal-Qatar relations.

Furthermore, the Emir of Qatar praised and expressed appreciation to Nepali migrant workers stating that they have huge contributions to the development of Qatar.

The Emir of Qatar Al Thani viewed that new possibilities could be explored for investments in water resources, agriculture, tourism and other sectors in Nepal.

On the occasion, President Paudel also expressed the confidence that the agreement and memorandum of understanding to be reached on Wednesday would unleash new potentials for investment in the areas such as water resource, agriculture and tourism in Nepal.

Noting that Nepal and Qatar have ever enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, President Paudel clarified that the relations between Nepal and Qatar are bound by the sense of friendship, mutual respect, trust and good will.

There has been a tradition of exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in a regular way which he claimed had played a spectacular role in expanding the bilateral relations.

The historical visit has taken the Nepal-Qatar relations to a new height, he further said.

Noting that Nepal has moved towards the journey of economic development and prosperity now with the agendas of political transformation reaching to a conclusion of late, he expressed his belief that there would be continuous support from Qatar to Nepal's efforts towards attaining development and prosperity.

President Paudel further expressed his optimism that the bilateral cooperation and collaboration would be further deepened in coming days in the context when there are arrays of potential for partnership in trade, tourism and investment areas.

Qatar has been a prime and attractive destination of foreign employment for Nepali workers and Nepali workforce has also substantially contributed in the making of modern Qatar, he recalled.

Expressing happiness over the sustainable development and prosperity of Qatar under the visionary leadership of the Emir, President Paudel lauded his far-reaching thinking and unswerving commitment to make Qatar a highly-developed nation.

On the occasion, the visiting dignitary also signed the visitors' book placed at the Office of the President.

President Ram Chandra Paudel and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a meeting at the former’s official residence in Maharajgunj on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interest, the President Office informed.

Qatari Emir Al Thani, who arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day state visit this afternoon, was welcomed by President Paudel upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha had reached TIA to receive the distinguished guest from Qatar.

Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, members of the Council of Ministers, high-ranking government officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu were at the airport to welcome the Qatari Emir.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday on a two-day state visit to Nepal.

He landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 3: 45 pm.

President Ram Chandra Paudel welcomed the Qatar’s Emir upon his arrival at the airport. A contingent of the Nepal Army offered a guard of honor to Qatar Emir Al Thani at the airport.

He arrived in Kathmandu at the cordial invitation of President Paudel.

The Qatar’s Emir arrived in Kathmandu today after completing his official visit to the Philippines and Bangladesh.

The Qatar’s Emir arrived in Kathmandu today after completing his official visit to the Philippines and Bangladesh.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha had reached TIA to receive the distinguished guest from Qatar.

Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, members of the Council of Ministers, high-ranking government officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu were at the TIA to welcome the Qatari Emir.

The visit is expected to help elevate the bilateral relations between Nepal and Qatar to a new height.

The Foreign Ministry said that he will hold a meeting with President Paudel in Sheetal Niwas today itself.

The President is scheduled to host a state banquet in honor of the Emir.

Similarly, the distinguished guest from Qatar will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday.

Following the talks, both leaders will witness the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding, the Foreign Ministry added.

This is the first visit by any Qatari Emir to Nepal ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations on January 21, 1977.

Nepal opened its embassy in Doha, Qatar on July 11, 2000 and Qatar its embassy in Nepal in Kathmandu in August 2011.

Qatar serves as one of the major labor destinations for Nepal.

The Qatari Emir is scheduled to depart from Kathmandu on April 24.