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McMullan
Nepal and Australia today celebrated 50 years of strong diplomatic relations during a visit to Nepal by the Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan.
"Over the last five decades, the relationship between Australia and Nepal has grown considerably, to the benefit of both countries," Mr McMullan said.
During a series of discussions with political leaders, Constituent Assembly members, and United Nations officials, Mr McMullan underlined Australia's support to Nepal's peace process and for its progress towards the health and education Millennium Development Goals.
To mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Australia will provide $800,000 to establish an Electoral Resource Centre at the Election Commission in Kathmandu. The Centre will increase community understanding of the electoral process and help entrench democracy in Nepal.
While in Kathmandu, Mr McMullan visited the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology which is working with the Fred Hollows Foundation to develop safe and affordable procedures for cataract surgery in the region.
Mr McMullan also announced additional Australia Awards scholarships for high achieving Nepali students to study in Australia, and support to establish an Alumni network to strengthen ongoing links between Nepali and Australian students and graduates. Since 1995, Australia has provided more than 200 scholarships to Nepali students.
"Since Australia's aid cooperation program began with Nepal in the 1960s, Australia has helped Nepal reduce poverty through assistance in primary education, forestry and health.
"Australia will continue to work with the Government of Nepal and with other donors to improve access to quality health and education services critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goal. They build the basis for sustainable peace in Nepal by helping to address historic patterns of exclusion," Mr McMullan said.
Mr McMullan is in the region to lead Australia's observer delegation to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit in Thimpu, Bhutan from 27-29 April.