Nepal should pursue balanced foreign policy: Arzu Rana

Newly-appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Arzu Rana, 61, while assuming the office on Monday reiterated Nepal’s conviction for Non-Aligned Movement and Principles of Panchsheel.

Talking to journalists at the ministry at Singhdurbar Secretariat, she expressed the view that Nepal sandwiched between the two landmasses should strike a balance while maintaining relations with all nations, including neighbors. Foreign Minister Rana said that the role of Foreign Ministry was significant for the country’s prosperity, adding she would focus her attention to advance economic diplomacy for the country’s development.

She underscored that Nepal has signed different treaties, agreements and commitments, whose proper implementation could contribute to capitalizing economic diplomacy to nurture national interests of the Nepal.

Foreign Minister Rana directed the employees to maintain good governance and effective implementation of policies to deliver better services to the people.

She pledged to put further efforts to rescue those stuck in different countries in war.

Spouse of Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, Rana is also the central committee member of ruling Nepali Congress Party. She is also the President of Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee under the Federal Parliament.

Born in Kathmandu in January 1962, Rana holds a PhD on Organizational Psychology from Punjab University Chandigarh of India. Foreign Minister Rana has been working on the issue of women rights since for more than two decades by establishing the Safe Motherhood Network.