By Ashish Kumar Mandal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Prime Minister Balendra Shah is returning home today after attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Prime Minister Shah was welcomed at the Tribhuvan International Airport by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Poudel.
Leading the Nepali delegation, Prime Minister Shah had departed for New York on September 26 to participate in the high-level week of the UN General Assembly. The delegation included Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Prime Minister’s Chief Political Adviser Kumar Byanjankar, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, among others.
Foreign Minister Khanal, who had arrived in New York ahead of Prime Minister Shah, is continuing to participate in various programmes held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to his secretariat.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on Friday, Prime Minister Shah stressed that climate justice should not remain confined to statements and documents of the United Nations but must be translated into concrete action. He said people in countries repeatedly affected by climate-related disasters should be given opportunities to build their future rather than being forced to repeatedly rebuild what they have lost.
During his address, Prime Minister Shah briefed the international community on the loss of lives and property caused by the Bhotekoshi River floods on August 26. He described the disaster not only as a local tragedy for Nepal but also as a warning to the world about the growing risks posed by climate change.
Highlighting that climate change does not recognise geographical borders, Prime Minister Shah said glaciers and floods do not travel with passports and visas. He also proposed the establishment of a “Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism” led by Nepal, India and China.
During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Shah also held a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Guterres expressed condolences over the loss of lives and property in the Bhotekoshi disaster and said the United Nations stood in solidarity with Nepal on issues related to climate change.
Prime Minister Shah thanked Secretary-General Guterres for his goodwill and support towards Nepal and extended his best wishes for the successful completion of his tenure.(pmonepal)
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