Nepal and Brazil exchanged congratulatory messages on October 5, 2026, marking 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal praised Brazil’s achievements in social and economic sectors, its leadership on the climate change agenda, and its role in strengthening the voice of the Global South. Khanal emphasized the need to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable development, climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.
In response, Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira cited a development project in Nepal’s dairy sector, supported by Brazil, as an example of successful bilateral cooperation.
Foreign Minister Khanal is currently in Fiji to participate in a ‘Pre-COP Leaders Event’ and is scheduled to attend programs in Fiji and Tuvalu on October 19 and 20, 2026. Due to his foreign visit, along with Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, the portfolios of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been assigned to Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Birajbhakta Shrestha.
Historical ties and cooperation
Diplomatic relations between Nepal and Brazil were formally established on February 7, 1976. Nepal opened its residential embassy in Brasilia on January 21, 2010, followed by Brazil opening its residential embassy in Kathmandu in October 2011.
On August 3, 2011, the two nations signed three key agreements covering technical cooperation, visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, and the establishment of a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM). The first meeting of the BCM was held in Brasilia on January 25, 2018.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai visited Brazil in June 2012 to attend the Rio+20 conference, further strengthening high-level engagement between the two countries.
Future engagements
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations are currently preparing for the next meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, which Nepal will host in Kathmandu. Foreign Minister Khanal is expected to return to Nepal on October 26, 2026, following a visit to Australia.
The exact reason for celebrating the 50th anniversary on October 5, 2026, given the diplomatic relations were established on February 7, 1976, is not yet clear.
