U.S. Ambassador to Nepal hosted a reception to celebrate 70 Years of Friendship between the United States and Nepal at Hyatt Regency.  Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun was the chief guest of the program.

The year 2017 commemorates 70 years of Nepal-U.S. diplomatic relations. According to the U.S. Embassy, this event highlighted both the broad strategic partnership between two countries and the U.S. Government’s decades-long friendship with Nepal.

“Today, the United States partners with Nepal to support inclusive and effective governance, promote political stability and economic development, decrease the country’s dependence on humanitarian assistance, and increase its ability to make positive contributions to regional security and the broader global community. The U.S. Government looks forward to many more decades of mutual benefits and friendship,” said a press notes.

Attended by people from various walks of life including ministers, parliamentarians, senior Nepalese government officials, Kathmandu based heads of diplomatic mission and others.

 Addressing the program, ambassador Teplitz said,” over these past seven decades, we have enjoyed a broader based partnership between our two countries and many strong friendships between our peoples.”

“This year’s anniversary gives us the chance to appreciate the tremendous accomplishments of our partnership here in Nepal. Together, we have supported inclusive and effective governance, bolstered human and economic development, reduced vulnerabilities to disease and disasters, prompted political stability, and increased Nepal’s ability to make positive contributions to regional security in South Asia and through international peacekeeping,” said ambassador Teplitz.

“Let me give some specific achievements: In 1960, life expectancy in Nepal was 35 years, and in 1980, the literacy rate for women stood at just 9 percent. Today, the average Nepali lives to 70. 65 percent of adult females are literate and maternal mortality deaths dropped by 75 percent since 1990. In the past 15 years, Nepal cut its poverty rate in half.”