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Sardor Mirzayusupovich Rustambaev, the Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Nepal, has presented his letters of credence to President Ram Chandra Paudel.

Nepal and Uzbekistan established formal diplomatic relations on 27 January 2018. Speaking at a roundtable discussion with Kathmandu-based businessmen, Ambassador Rustambaev highlighted Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy. “We cannot say that we rely on one or two major sources of income,” he said, stressing that both countries can cooperate in areas such as fertilizer, agriculture, labor, tourism, and more.

He also informed participants that discussions are underway to establish an air bridge between Nepal and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan, one of the fastest-growing economies, is projected to record a GDP growth of 7.5 percent in 2025, according to an analysis by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms of Uzbekistan, as reported by local media. The forecast was revised upward by 0.8 percentage points from the June estimate. Over the first nine months of this year, the Uzbek economy expanded by 7.6 percent, driven by stable growth in industry, services, agriculture, construction, and foreign trade.

Ambassador Rustambaev encouraged Nepali businesses to explore investment opportunities in Uzbekistan, noting that the two countries are not competitors but can complement each other. He acknowledged, however, that current bilateral trade remains minimal.

MAEDA Toru, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal on Thursday called on Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai.

According to Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, various matters of Nepal-Japan relations including celebrating the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026 were discussed during the meeting.  

The government has decided to implement the 10-point agreement signed with Gen Z representatives on Wednesday. 

The agreement was signed on December 10 at the Office of the Prime Minister, Singha Durbar.

A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to publish the agreement in the Nepal Gazette, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel confirmed.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Bhoj Bikram Thapa, on behalf of those who attained martyrdom and were injured during the Gen Z movement, signed the pact. 

Likewise, Minister Kharel said that the Council of Ministers decided to expand the scope of the Investigation Commission formed by the Government to probe the incidents of the Gen-Z Movement of September 8 and 9. 

Asked about the presence of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to record his statement in the Probe Commission, Minister Kharel said the jurisdiction of the Commission was expanded and the Commission will perform its job in accordance with the laws.

Forty-six thousand and twenty new voters have been registered in Sudurpaschim Province. 

Prem Raj Bhatta, Head of the Sudurpaschim Province Election Office, said that there has been an increase in young voters for the House of Representatives elections to be held on March 5.

"Election material management and voter list updating works are going on. A deadline until Friday has been given for registering objections on the voter list and correction of any errors," Bhatta added.

He said the highest number of new voters was added in Kailali with 18,213 and the lowest in Bajura with 1,517 from September 26  to November 21, during the period opened for registering for the voter list.