Nepal’s Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, marked the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Australia, calling the partnership “built on mutual respect, lasting friendship, and shared democratic values.”
Prime Minister Karki highlighted the growing ties between the countries and thanked Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, Leann Johnston, for organising this meaningful event.
“The partnership continues to expand across education, development, trade, culture, and multilateral cooperation.”
Ambassador Johnston, said the 2025 anniversary “marks a historic milestone in our long-standing relationship.” In a statement, she reflected on the history of Australian diplomacy in Nepal, noting that Australia established a resident mission in Kathmandu in 1984, and Ms Di Johnstone became Australia’s first ambassador to Nepal in 1986—the first of five women to hold the post, including the current ambassador.
Over the decades, the bilateral relationship has grown through high-level visits, trade and investment, and development cooperation. Around 151,000 Nepalis now live in Australia, and more than 62,000 Nepali students studied in Australian institutions in 2023. Nepalese is among the most widely spoken languages in cities such as Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin, with community festivals celebrating culture and heritage across the country.
Trade between the two countries reached US$3.9 billion in 2022–23, with Australian exports dominated by education services. Australia also remains a key development partner, providing US$27.2 million in aid in 2023–24 for initiatives including governance reform, climate resilience, gender equality, social inclusion, and disaster preparedness.
Recent diplomatic engagements have further strengthened ties. In February 2024, Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud visited Australia and signed the Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), boosting bilateral economic cooperation. Australian ministerial visits to Kathmandu have also facilitated dialogue on governance, lawmaking, and institutional reform.
“Australia deeply values its friendship with Nepal,” Ambassador Johnston said, highlighting people-to-people links, education exchanges, and development partnerships. She added that the 65-year journey reflects a “bilateral relationship that is culturally rich, economically promising, diplomatically resilient, and rooted in the enduring goodwill of its people.”
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
