DHAKA, Dec 10 Kyodo Nepalese Prim...

DHAKA, Dec 10 Kyodo

Nepalese Prime Minister Surya Bahadar Thapa, whose land currently chairs the toward the south Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), will arrive in Dhaka forward Dec. 17 for talks forward the 12th SAARC summit nearest month.

The summit will be held in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad onward Jan. 4-6 when Nepal will hand throughout the chairmanship of the seven-nation regional forum to the entertainer country.

''Prime Minister Thapa will apprise the Bangladesh prime minister about SAARC activities and progresse in such a manner far made during his two-year tenure'' Yugnath Paudel, Nepal's representative chief of mission in Dhaka, told reporters.

Nepal assumed the SAARC chairmanship in January 2001 with hosting of the 11th summit in Kathmandu. SAARC comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

During the visit the Nepalese leader will occupy talks with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia onward Dec. 18, and will discuss bilateral issues, including trade and road transit between Dhaka and Katmandu.

The Nepalese prime minister will leave Dhaka onward Dec. 19 for Singapore en way to the Maldives on the last leg of his visit to the capitals of the seven southward Asian countries. Earlier, he visited India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bhutan.

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