Third Meeting of the Nepal-Australia Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM)

Press Release

The Third Meeting of the Nepal-Australia Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) concluded in Kathmandu today.

The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of Nepal-Australia bilateral relations and deliberated on matters of mutual interests. Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to translating the understandings reached between the two sides into tangible outcomes for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The discussions during the BCM focused on deepening cooperation, focusing on priorities such as high-level political engagement, climate resilience, green economy, water resource management, agricultural research, and the alignment of Australia's Development Partnership Plan in line with Nepal's national priorities. Expansion of trade, air connectivity, tourism,  investment in Nepal's hydropower sector and the establishment of a formal educational cooperation framework for education and research were also discussed. The meeting also focused on strengthening people-to-people links by leveraging diaspora networks, managing migration and visa frameworks and exploring sister-city relations.

They further exchanged views on regional and international trends, human rights, carbon trading frameworks and reciprocal support for candidacies in multilateral forums like the United Nations.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Amrit Bahadur Rai, Foreign Secretary of the Ministry and H. E. Ms Sarah Storey, First Assistant Secretary of the South and Central Asia Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia.

Similarly, the first meeting of Joint Nepal-Australia Trade and Investment Committee under the Nepal Australia Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) was held in Kathmandu, yesterday.

The Australian delegation included Mr Simon Ernst, Ambassador of Australia to Nepal; Mr Steven Biddle, Regional Director for South Asia at the Department of Home Affairs; Army Adviser/Brigadier Damian Hill, Head of Australian Defence Staff; Mr George Thiveos, Minister-Counsellor (Education and Research) at the Australian High Commission in India; Mr Greg Klemm, Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu; Mr Dylan Jones-Virma, First Secretary Development at the Australian Embassy; and Ms Margot Holt, Policy Officer (DFAT).

The Nepali side consisted of Mr Prakash Adhikari, Joint Secretary and Head of the South-East Asia and the Pacific Division from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr Jeebachh Mandal, Joint Secretary, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat; Mr Dhani Ram Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance; Dr Hari Bahadur KC and Dr Rajendra KC, Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment; Mr Buddha Bahadur Gurung, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Mr Ananda Kafle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; Mr Shiva Kumar Sapkota, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports; Mr Narayan Prasad Wagle and Mr Binod Mukhiya, Under Secretaries and Mr Hemant Timilsina, Section Officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and Australia was established in July 2017. The first and second meeting of the Mechanism were held in Kathmandu and Canberra in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Singhadurbar, Kathmandu

24 July 2026