January 31: US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, pledged to further strengthen the bilateral relations and cooperation between Nepal and the USA.

Before wrapping up her two-day visit to Nepal on Monday, US Under-Secretary said at a press conference organised in Lalitpur that the US government has been assisting Nepal through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project.

She also expressed commitment to provide technology to combat crimes related to health, education and cyber security in the days ahead.

Stating that the US government has been providing multi-dimensional support to Nepal, Nuland pledged to give continuity to such programmes in the future.

She also showed special interest in implementing the projects under the US-funded MCC during her meetings with top leaders of Nepal.

On the occasion, she informed that various issues of bilateral interests were discussed during the meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Dr Bimala Rai Poudel.    

Similarly, discussions were held on the issues including further step for the implementation of MCC, transitional justice process, and building environment to increase US investment in Nepal, the US Under-Secretary Nuland said.   

She visited different cultural heritages located at Patan Durbar Square of Lalitpur on Monday.   

This is the first high-level visit from the USA after the formation of a new government led by Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.