Kathmandu, Oct 22, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Ishwor Pokhrel has said small countries are facing challenges to protect their environment and ecology due to impact of climate change, seeking support from the developed and industrial countries to maintain the ecological balance.
In his address today to a session on the ‘common interest and security of small and medium countries’ held under the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum going on in Beijing, the capital of China, the Deputy Prime Minister drew the attention of developed and industrialized countries towards climate change issues enduring Nepal despite its almost no role in the greenhouse effect, the Ministry of Defence said.
He utilised the moment to share the gathering that Nepal was hosting the Sagarmatha Sambad (dialogue) in April, 2020 as it seeks to increase an awareness of the world community towards sensitive ecology of the mountain region and to enhance the level of mutual assistance to control climate change. He invited the countries taking part in the gathering to the event, according to the source.
“In the present competitive and changing context, the security and development agenda concerning small, medium and least developed countries should be given priority at an international level,” he asserted. He further said: “Nepal’s foreign policies are being operated on the basis of the United Nations Charter, the five principles of peaceful coexistence (Panchasheel) and the world peace.
Nepal is in favour of just and equitable world provisions.” He floated his reason that poverty existing in a particular place was a challenge for security, peace and stability everywhere and that’s why the developed nations should assist in the development of LDCs for own security as well.
Nepal which had been successful in managing and resolving the decade-long conflict through a home-grown modality entered republic federal structure few years back and had now achieved political stability and peace, he said, adding that the focus of incumbent government had been concentrated on promoting economic prosperity and good-governance.
He said that the present government has identified modernization of agriculture; expansion of industry sector; development of hydroelectricity, tourism and infrastructure; and qualitative improvement of the education and health sectors as the strategic areas as per the vision of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ and has also been running various programmes to that end.
The Ministry of Defence has stated that Deputy Prime Minister Pokharel also invited the participants and Chinese tourists to visit Nepal as Nepal, a country which has 10 of the world’s 14 highest peaks, which is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha and a country rich in art and culture, is celebrating the Year 2020 as the Visit Nepal Year.
The inaugural session of the Forum was attended by more than 600 representatives from 68 countries. In his message of best wishes to the Forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated that China is for world peace, stability and the shared prosperity of humanity.
