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National Assembly (NA) Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal held bilateral meetings with the President of the National Council of Switzerland, and the leaders of parliamentary delegations from India, China, Thailand, and the Philippines on the sidelines of the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday.

Dahal is currently in Geneva, leading the Nepali delegation to the IPU 149th Assembly.

Chairperson Dahal held a bilateral meeting with Eric Nussbaumer, President of the National Council of Swiss Confederation. The two leaders expressed commitment to enhancing inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in areas of climate change, mountain conservation and disaster risk reduction, strengthening federalism, and the Swiss development cooperation in Nepal including in the peace process, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva said in a press release.

Later in the evening, Chairman Dahal held a bilateral meeting with the leader of the Indian delegation, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Discussions focused on promoting cooperation in the bilateral, regional and multilateral fronts to strengthen democratic institutions.

Earlier today, the National Assembly Chair held a bilateral meeting with the leader of the Chinese delegation Tian Xuejun. The two sides discussed the need for parliamentary exchanges and cooperation to address the common challenges such as climate change, inequality and digital divide while contributing to promoting peace and stability.

During the bilateral meeting with Mongkol Surasajita, President of the Senate of Thailand, Dahal emphasized the historical and cultural ties between Nepal and Thailand deep rooted in the ideals of Buddhism. The two leaders discussed enhancing parliamentary exchanges and cooperation to promote peace, democracy and development.

The Chairperson of the National Assembly of Nepal also held a bilateral meeting with Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Speaker of the House of Representative of the Republic of the Philippines and discussed promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation to promote peace, democracy and development in the world.

National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal has said development in science and technology had spurred innovation, making human life easier and dynamic.

Addressing the 149th general assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva on Monday, Chairman Dahal underlined the need for formulating and implementing the laws that ensure everyone's equal access to technology and its benefits.

Transformative capacity of States is essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals launched in 2015.

He expressed worry over the widening gap among the countries in the access to and capacity relating to information technology. "Still, over two billion people are deprived of information. Collective efforts are imperative to cope with the challenges posed by inequality. All people need to be guaranteed equal access to IT and innovation," Dahal underscored.

According to him, world Parliaments which devise laws, could play effective roles to resolve the problems surfaced in the wake of expansion of IT like privacy breach, cyber threat, and spread of propaganda.

For the relatively backward countries, international assistance and cooperation are required to develop and expand IT, research, resource mobilization and youth engagement.

Exchange of best practices of the Parliaments on science and technology across the world could be useful to bridge gaps between the developed and developing countries, he hoped.

He appreciated the Union's initiative to incorporate artificial intelligence in its action plan by forming a taskforce on science and technology.

"The Union is a significant forum to debate that help cope with worlds' burning problems like climate change, natural disaster, geopolitical tension, poverty and inequality," Dahal observed.

A nine-member Nepali parliamentary delegation, led by National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, has left here for Geneva, Switzerland today to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)'s 149th Assembly.

The Chairman of the upper house of the Federal Parliament is scheduled to make a statement in the IPU Assembly on the theme of 'Harnessing science, technology, and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future', on behalf of Nepal, the Federal Parliament Secretariat stated.

The NA Chair is scheduled to hold meetings with the delegations from various countries and with officials of the IPU and the IPU Secretariat on the sidelines of the Assembly.

Lawmakers Sunita Baral and Nisha Dangi are in the delegation. The IPU 149th Assembly will be held on October 13-17.

National Assembly lawmakers Taraman Swanr and Krishna Prasad Paudel, and Federal Parliament's Secretary-General Padma Prasad Pandeya among other officers are also in the Nepali delegation.

Chairman Dahal-led delegation will return home on October 19.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song paid a courtesy call on National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal.

During the meeting held at the office of Dahal in Singha Durbar today, matters related to bilateral partnership, mutual cooperation and relations were discussed, according to the Chair Dahal’s Secretariat.

On the occasion, he said the relations between the two countries are strong at the people’s level along with diplomatic level.

Talking about the visit by presidents of both countries and regular exchanges of visit by parliamentary delegations, Chair Dahal mentioned that such visits help expand new dimensions of relationship and development.

He expressed the belief that China would provide continuous support to Nepal in coming days, sharing that the support of China for Nepal’s economic and social sectors is incomparable.

Similarly, the Chinese Ambassador expressed happiness that the Parliament has passed the TRC Bill, which he said would be a new stride in Nepal’s peace, stability and development sector.

Stating that China is willing to start direct air service to Pokhara and Bhairahawa International Airports from different cities of China, Ambassador Song underlined that it would help to increase arrival of Chinese tourists in Nepal. 

National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal has emphasized that the Parliament should be developed as a place to raise the voice of the people and draft laws necessary for building a prosperous Nepal.

In a message today on the occasion of Parliament Day, Dahal mentioned that the supreme institution of people's representation is a representation of various ideas, philosophies and political parties. "We should all express our collective commitment on the occasion of Parliament Day to raise the dignity of the Parliament and to remain honest towards giving people a real feel of democracy and change," he said.

In the message Chairperson Dahal has expressed his belief that this day commemorating the day when parliamentary exercise began in Nepal would inspire all people's representatives, political parties, civil society and media persons to become more honest, committed and responsible towards parliamentary supremacy, rule of law and democracy.

Parliament Day is celebrated every year today marking the maiden meeting of the first elected Parliament of Nepal on Asar 16, 2016 BS.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal has extended a message of best wishes to the media fraternity and all on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day stating that a matured and robust democracy cannot be imagined without press freedom.

In a message today, Chairman Dahal has expressed condolences to all the martyrs who got martyrdom while practicing journalism for freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

The NA Chairman has said the role performed by the press in establishing democracy by ending totalitarianism in the country is significant.

Chairman Dahal has stated that this day should be considered for making a commitment to abiding by professional ethics.

National Assembly (NA) Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal said the NA would work to connect all three tiers of governments.

Talking to journalists today, he said the NA would work as a link between the local level and province assembly.

Chair Dahal shared that NA has initiated discussion on the topics of aspirations, challenges and potentials of province and local levels.

He further said the issues discussed in the NA would reach the government through the House of Representatives.

Chair Dahal said discussions were already started in the NA on the problems of all the seven provinces in the last week of every month. "I have made arrangements for the members representing all the seven provinces to raise the issues of their provinces," he said.

Dahal insisted on making NA a space to play a crucial role in connecting the three tiers of government.

Newly elected chairperson of the National Assembly (NA) Narayan Prasad Dahal said that he would take initiative to boost the prestige and importance of the upper chamber of the Federal Parliament.

Talking to media persons while exiting from the meeting after his election to the post, Chair Dahal shared that he would play an active role to establish the thinking that NA is the essential institution.

"I am committed to unite NA members of all parties to fulfill the entire roles and responsibilities of NA. I also have self-confidence that I will be successful in it," he underlined.

Stating that he would move ahead taking every activity that falls within NA's jurisdiction seriously, NA Chair Dahal stressed that he would be involved in formulating laws as well as boosting the prestige of the NA.

Dahal is scheduled to take oath of office and secrecy before President Ramchandra Paudel today itself.