Nepal’s links with Myanmar date back some 150 years when Burma was a British colony.Nepali nationals recruited in British forces were allowed to settle in Burma during the colonial times which brought Nepali and Burmese people closer. However, the formal diplomatic relations between Nepal and Myanmar was established on 19 March 1960.The age-old relationship between our two countries is based on mutual respect, trust and cooperation. Buddha’s eternal teachings of love, compassion and empathy have influenced daily lives of the people in both countries.
Exchange of Visits
Bilateral relations between the two countries have been further strengthened by the exchange of visits at various levels. Some important visits are listed below:
Rt. Hon. President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari paid a state visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on 16 to 20 October 2019 at the cordial invitation of President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Win Myint. The visit of the President was the first ever state visit by the head of the State, after the establishment of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, to Myanmar.
General Rajendra Chhetri, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) paid a good will visit of Myanmar on 4-8 July 2018. It was the first ever visit of the CoAS of Nepal to Myanmar.
Mr. Anup Kumar Upadhyay, Secretary, Ministry of Energy, leading a three member Nepali delegation, visited Myanmar to attend the 4th Meeting of the BIMSTEC Senior Officials on Energy held on 11-12 January 2017 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
Former Chief Justice Hon. Mr. Kalyan Shrestha visited Myanmar on 28 February-1 March 2017 in connection with the 3rd High-level Dialogue on Judicial Ethics and Accountability Mechanism jointly organized by the International Commission of Jurists and Government of Myanmar.
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Sushil Koirala visited Myanmar to attend the 3rd BIMSTEC Summit held on 4 March 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
1980- Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista's Official visit
1980 - King Birendra's State visit
1970 - King Mahendra's State visit
Exchange of visits from Myanmar
General Ne Win, the then Chairman of the Union of Myanmar, visited Nepal twice in 1966 and in 1977.
Mr. U Sein Wing, Prime Minister of Myanmar visited Nepal representing his country in the coronation of King Birendra in 1975.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. U Kyaw Thu paid an unofficial goodwill visit to Nepal in the beginning of 2008.
Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. U Nyan Win paid an official visit of Nepal on 15-18 February 2010 as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Tourism The number of tourists from Myanmar to Nepal had slowed down due to the pandemic. There have been 12,929 arrivals from Myanmar in 2023. Myanmar has constructed a Pagoda and a Monastery in Lumbini. Nepal presented 16 wooden panels depicting life history of Lord Buddha which has been enshrined in front of famous Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangon.
Cultural landscape
Majority of the population of Myanmar follows Buddhism (88%). There exists enormous potential for attracting tourists from Myanmar for pilgrimage tourism /religious tourism.
Nepalese community
The number of Burmese of Nepalese origin living in Myanmar is estimated to be more than two hundred thousand. They have been playing an instrumental role in preserving and promoting Nepali culture, tradition and language in Myanmar and in strengthening ties at the people’s level.
Agreements/MOUs
Some important Agreements/MOUs between Nepal and Myanmar are as follows:
MoU on the Establishment of Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Nepal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Official (Special) Passports
MoU between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of the Government of Nepal and the Ministry of Commerce of the Republic of the union of Myanmar on Cooperation on Trade and Investment
MoU between Nepal and Myanmar concerning Cooperation in the exchange of Intelligence related to Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and Related Crimes
MoU between Nepal and Myanmar on Cultural Cooperation
MoU between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar on Tourism Cooperation
Air Service Agreement
South East Asia and the Pacific Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu
As of January 2025
