Diplomatic Reception for Newly Credentialed Non-Resident Ambassadors to Nepal

The Ambassadors Club Nepal hosted a welcome dinner on May 21, 2026, at its office in Bishalnagar, Kathmandu, in honor of newly accredited non-resident Ambassadors of Austria, Dr. Robert Zischg, and Luxembourg, Mr. Christian Biever, along with their spouses. Hosted by Amb. Dr. Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal and Mr. Bimal Dhakal, the event brought together diplomats, senior government officials, international organization representatives, and distinguished guests. During the evening, Amb. Dr. Sarmila highlighted Nepal’s growing ties with Austria and Luxembourg, marked the first anniversary of Ambassadors Club Nepal and its affiliated institutions, and conferred Honorary Membership of the Club upon the newly accredited ambassadors and their spouses. The event concluded with networking and a cultural performance by Nepali musical band Sursudha.

Kathmandu: The Ambassadors Club Nepal hosted a Welcome Dinner in honor of the newly credentialed non-resident ambassadors of Republic of Austria and The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Nepal and their spouses at the Ambassadors Club office in Bishalnagar,Kathmandu on May 21.

Amb. Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal, President of the Ambassadors Club Nepal, International Relations and Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD), and The Diplomat Nepal magazine and Mr Bimal Dhakal, publisher of the magazine, accorded warm welcome to newly accredited non-resident ambassador of Austria to Nepal Dr. Robert Zischg, and non-resident Ambassador of Luxembourg to Nepal Mr. Christian Biever, and his esteemed spouse, Mrs. Carole Hecker.

The welcome dinner was hosted in their honor at the Ambassadors Club premises.

On the occasion, Amb. Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal delivered a keynote speech to welcome the esteemed guests. The event was held amid a ceremony participated in by Diplomats, Lawmakers, Senior Officials, and Representatives of International Organizations.

Additionally, Amb. Dr. Sarmila, who is also the former ambassador of Nepal to Spain and Oman, extended her heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Rojina Tamrakar on her appointment as Executive Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs Nepal (IFA Nepal). She stated that Ms Tamrakar’s earlier service as Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Nepal in Oman reflected both integrity and dedication and expressed that Ms. Tamrakar will continue to elevate Nepal’s diplomatic scholarship and institutional strength in her new role.

Amb. Dr. Sarmila said it was an honor to host the evening on behalf of the Ambassadors Club Nepal, IRGDD, The Diplomat Nepal, and the Diplomatic Academy Nepal (DAN). “This is a gathering of purpose, of people who believe that diplomacy is not confined to protocol, but is lived through relationships, trust, and shared aspirations,” she said. She further emphasized that diplomats are not only representatives of states, but custodians of dialogue, understanding, and Cooperation.

Highlighting the bilateral ties between Nepal and Austria, she said that there’s a profound alpine affinity with Austria with two nations shaped by mountains, resilience, multilateral engagement, and a shared responsibility to give voice to highland communities in global discourse. With Luxembourg, she said, the celebration of a relationship continues to grow with quiet strength, anchored in sustainability, and mutual respect.

Ambassador Dr. Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal mentioned the first anniversary of Ambassadors Club Nepal, IRGDD, and The Diplomat Nepal which took place on May 18, 2026. “This milestone was marked by a profound sense of encouragement, as we were honored to receive gracious well-wishes from the esteemed diplomatic community,” she said.

Amb. Dr. Sarmila conferred the ‘honorary membership’ of the Ambassadors Club Nepal to newly credentialed Non-Resident Ambassadors and their spouses. “This is an open invitation to remain part of a living community of dialogue, friendship, and shared purpose, forever with Nepal,” she said.

Ambassador of Luxembourg Mr. Christian Biever extended sincere thanks to Dr. Sarmila and Mr. Bimal Dhakal for organizing the event and said that he feels honored to be accredited to Nepal. He stated that both he and his wife, Carolyn Hecker, were very honored to be part of the event and that they look forward to meeting and discussing with everyone. He further emphasized that Nepal is an amazing country and that he was really amazed by the event Organized to welcome them.

Ambassador of Austria Dr. Robert Zischg also expressed his gratitude and highlighted the similarities between Austria, Luxembourg, and Nepal. “All three of these nations are landlocked and do not have access to the sea,” he said. He also mentioned that all three nations are mountainous countries and that these are some interesting features that combine them all.

He extended sincere thanks to Dr. Sarmila and Mr. Bimal Dhakal as well as the Ambassadors Club for organizing the evening reception and said he looks forward to meeting future friends. He also mentioned his discussion with Rt Honorable President Ram Chandra Paudel and said that it was an honor and pleasure for him to be in Kathmandu to not only discover the beauties of Kathmandu but to also discover valleys, the mountains, and the peaks.

The programme was attended by Mr. Christian Biever, Ambassador of Luxembourg, and his spouse Mrs. Carole Hecker, Mr. Robert Zischg, Ambassador of Austria, Mr Pushkar Sapkota, Member Secretary (Law and Human Rights Sector), Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, together with his esteemed spouse, Mrs. Chandra Sapkota, Mr. Ram Kaji Khadka, Joint Secretary, Central Asia, West Asia, and Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA Nepal), Ms. Durapada Sapkota, Joint Secretary/Director General, Department of Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA Nepal), Mr. Abdulla Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Alshamsi, Ambassador of UAE, Mr. Mishal Mohammed Al Ansari, Ambassador of Qatar, Mr. Fahd Mohammad Ajmi Mnikhr, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Mr. U Thant Sin, Ambassador of Myanmar, Mr. Abrar Hussain Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan, Md Shafiqur Rahman, Ambassador of Bangladesh, Mr. Udo Eugen Volz, Ambassador of Germany, and his spouse, Mrs. Marianne Beck-Volz, Mohd Firdaus bin Azman, Charge d’Affaires of Malaysia and Mrs. Monirah Anis Binti Mansor, Yuba Nath Lamsal, Former Ambassador of Nepal to Denmark, Mr.Shree Ram Lamichanne, Honorary Consul General of Luxembourg, Mr. Rajesh Babu Shrestha, Honorary Consul of Austria, Mr. Bhola Bikram Thapa, Honorary Consul of Bulgaria, Mr. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC and his spouse Mrs. Taslina Sarwar, Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, President, SAARC CCI, Mr. Sriram Haridass, UNFPA Country Representative, Mr. Riaz Lodhi, WFP Country Director and his spouse Mrs. Afeera Riaz Lodhi, Mr. Pranav Kumar Gupta, IMF Resident Representative, Mr. Sudan Gyawali, WHO Multi-Sector Coordinator, Ms. Lenneke Braam, Country Director of SNV, and Jaya Rajya Laxmi Shah, Former District Governor of Rotary International, among others.

The evening concluded with networking and a cultural performance by Nepali musical band

Sursudha.

• Mr. Christian Biever – Non-Resident Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Nepal, accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Carole Hecker.
• Dr. Robert Zischg – Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Nepal.
• Mr. Pushkar Sapkota – Member Secretary (Law and Human Rights Sector), Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Chandra Sapkota.
• Mr. Ram Kaji Khadka – Joint Secretary, Central Asia, West Asia, and Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal.
• Ms. Durapada Sapkota – Joint Secretary and Director General, Department of Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal.
• Mr. Abdulla Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Alshamsi – Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nepal.
• Mr. Mishal Mohammed Al Ansari – Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nepal.
• Mr. Fahd Mohammad Ajmi Mnikhr – Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nepal.
• Mr. U Thant Sin – Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to Nepal.
• Mr. Abrar Hussain Hashmi – Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Nepal.
• Mr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman – Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Nepal.
• Mr. Udo Eugen Volz – Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nepal, accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Marianne Beck-Volz.
• Mr. Mohd Firdaus bin Azman – Chargé d’Affaires of Malaysia to Nepal, accompanied by Mrs. Monirah Anis Binti Mansor.
• Mr. Yuba Nath Lamsal – Former Ambassador of Nepal to Denmark.
• Mr. Shree Ram Lamichhane – Honorary Consul General of Luxembourg to Nepal.
• Mr. Rajesh Babu Shrestha – Honorary Consul of Austria to Nepal.
• Mr. Bhola Bikram Thapa – Honorary Consul of Bulgaria to Nepal.
• Mr. Golam Sarwar – Secretary General of SAARC, accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Taslina Sarwar.
• Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal – President, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI).
• Mr. Sriram Haridass – Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
• Mr. Riaz Lodhi – Country Director, World Food Programme (WFP), accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Afeera Riaz Lodhi.
• Mr. Pranav Kumar Gupta – Resident Representative, International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Nepal.
• Mr. Sudan Gyawali – Multi-Sector Coordinator, World Health Organization (WHO).
• Ms. Lenneke Braam – Country Director, SNV Nepal.
• Jaya Rajya Laxmi Shah – Former District Governor, Rotary International.

Other attendees included diplomats, lawmakers, senior government officials, representatives of international organizations, honorary consuls, and members of the diplomatic and business communities.