Kathmandu: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has emphasized the need for further consolidating the friendly relations persisting with India and China. She highlighted the necessity for Nepal to optimally reap the benefits of the development of both neighboring countries.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Bhandari expressed these views at a program organized by the Madan Bhandari Foundation to mark the 74th birth anniversary of the popular leader, the late Madan Bhandari. She underscored the obligation of making the people happy and the nation prosperous, committing to socialism with social justice and equality.
The former President claimed that people’s multi-party democracy is the foundation of success towards steering the country to economic prosperity following a protracted political transition. She highlighted the relevance of this democratic model for the socio-economic transformation of the country.
Senior Vice-Chair of the CPN (UML), Iswar Prasad Pokharel, also spoke at the event. He said that ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ is the socialism of the Nepali model envisaged by the people’s multi-party democracy. Pokharel added that the democratization of party life is an inseparable part of this democratic model.
During the occasion, this year’s Madan Bhandari National Award was presented to tourism entrepreneur Aang Tshering Sherpa. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli handed over the award carrying a purse of Rs 100,000.