Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, arrived in Nepal on Sunday, December 8, for an official visit.

During his stay, Lu is scheduled to meet with senior Nepali leaders and civil society representatives, according to the US Embassy in Nepal. Welcoming him, the embassy highlighted on its official Facebook page that his visit reflects the United States’ commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and fostering collaboration in key areas such as environmental protection, women’s empowerment, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.

A statement from the US Department of State, released on December 3, noted that Lu’s South Asia tour from December 3–10 includes visits to India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. “Lu will conclude his trip in Kathmandu, meeting with senior leaders to advance cooperation on environmental protection, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development,” the statement said. It also mentioned that he will engage with youth leaders to explore their vision for the future of US-Nepal relations.

The visit follows Nepal’s signing of the “BRI Cooperation Framework” with China during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s four-day official visit to the northern neighbor from December 2–5.