Nepal to add diplomatic missions in China, Gulf countries

KATHMANDU - The government of Nepal has decided to establish additional diplomatic missions in China and three Gulf countries of Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, officials said Friday.

In a cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government approved proposals to open a consulate general in Guangzhou of China, consulate office in Jeddah of Saudi Arabia and two residential embassies in Oman and Bahrain.

Guangzhou has been emerging as an important place for Nepali importers, while Gulf countries have been attracting large number of Nepali migrant workers.

"The growing significance of these places is the key factor that led us to think about setting up new diplomatic missions," said Raj Kishor Yadav, minister for information and communication.

Apart from its embassy in Beijing, Nepal has two consulates general, one in Lhasa and the other in China's Hong Kong. The addition of one more mission in Guangzhou will bring Nepali missions in China to four.

"We will now send requests to the respective countries to allow us open up the new missions," the minister added. At present, Nepal's embassy in Saudi Arabia looks after Oman, while embassy in Qatar oversees Bahrain.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed last April the four new missions along with similar diplomatic offices in Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Indonesia and Turkey.

The cabinet meeting on Thursday considered it unnecessary for an embassy in Spain, while it is yet to decide on the other candidates. Nepal has so far had 29 residential missions and three consulates general across the world.