Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala is set to address the UK Parliament at the Palace of Westminster on January 13. According to Koirala’s secretariat, he will speak at a special programme organised within the Parliament, focusing on Asian affairs and relations between Nepal and the United Kingdom.

The event will be attended by UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific) Catherine West, and Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports Gareth Thomas, alongside British MPs.

Koirala is travelling to the UK on January 9 at the invitation of West and Thomas.

The special programme aims to strengthen the historic ties between Nepal and the UK, focusing on diplomacy and trade, according to Koirala’s secretariat.

Nepal established its diplomatic relations with the UK in 1816. The UK is the first country in the world with which Nepal established diplomatic relations and the UK is the first country to establish its embassy in Kathmandu.

Koirala, who lost the election for the presidential post of Nepali Congress to Sher Bahadur Deuba in December 2021, leads a strong faction within the party. He is also preparing to contest for the post in the next general convention.