May 16: Australian Assistant Foreign Minister, Tim Watts, has arrived on a two-day visit to Nepal, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and celebrate cultural exchanges between the two countries.

 The highlight of his visit will be the handover ceremony of a 13th-century wooden tunala (temple strut) from Ratneshwar Temple at Sulima Square to the local community, organized at the prestigious Patan Museum. 

This significant artifact, which has been returned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, will be represented by Director Dr Michael Brand during the handover, said a press statement issued by the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu.

During his stay, Assistant Minister Watts will make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. 

The purpose of these meetings is to express Australia's deep appreciation for the strong cooperation and thriving people-to-people linkages between the two nations, which have spanned over 63 years of diplomatic relations. 

Notably, the Nepali community represents the fastest-growing migrant population in Australia, currently numbering around 130,000, further strengthening the ties between the two countries, the press statement reads.

Furthermore, Assistant Minister Watts will also visit BioVac Nepal in Banepa, a state-of-the-art diagnostic and animal vaccine production facility that has benefited from technology transfer and research collaboration with Australia. 

Likewise,  he will pay a visit to the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO), which has received unwavering support from the Australian Government and the Fred Hollows Foundation for the past three decades. 

This support has enabled TIO to provide crucial eye care services in Nepal and manufacture intraocular lenses for national and global distribution, showcasing the strong commitment to humanitarian efforts.

Assistant Minister Watts will hand over an Australian-made Portable Altitude Chamber to the Himalayan Rescue Association. This chamber will be utilized at the Pheriche Medical Outpost and Everest ER Clinic at Everest Base Camp, ensuring effective medical assistance for climbers.

Assistant Minister Watts' visit to Nepal is part of a broader four-country program, highlighting Australia's engagement in the region. Alongside participating in the sixth Indian Ocean Conference in Bangladesh, he will also undertake bilateral visits to Bhutan and India.