Nepal's Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey has handed over an invitation to Maldives President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom to attend the 18th SAARC Summit on behalf of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.
According to Nepal Foreign Ministry, Pandey also briefed President Gayoom about the ongoing summit preparations made by Nepal as the host country.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the ways to enhance regional cooperation and collaboration on major areas of cooperation under SAARC, nepalnews reports.
The foreign minister also stressed on the need for making SAARC more effective, efficient and result-oriented through appropriately harnessing the regional potentials for the benefit of the region and its people.
In the meeting, there were also discussions on further enhancement of bilateral relations between Nepal and Maldives.
Minister Pandey also met with his counterpart Dunya Maumoon, and invited her to the 36th Session of SAARC Council of Ministers scheduled to be held on November 25, prior to the 18th SAARC Summit.
Minister Pandey will hand over the SAARC invitation to the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday.
Nepal is hosting the SAARC Summit for the third time on 26-27 November 2014 in Kathmandu.
