Sagarmatha Sambad appropriate platform to discuss vital issues

Kathmandu, Feb. 18

The diplomatic community in Kathmandu has appreciated the government's initiative to organise the 'Sagarmatha Sambad' as a platform to discuss regional and global issues from April 2 to 4 this year.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal Veronica Cody,  Qatar to Nepal, Yousif Bin Mohamed Al-Hail and Republic of Korea to Nepal Park Young-sik said that the dialogue would benefit the region as well as the world and offered their support to make it happen. Former Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri also offered similar support.

The government is organising the programme as a permanent global dialogue forum and is said to draw international leaders and high-level delegates from South Asia and other countries.

According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Nepal aimed at changing Nepal's image of the country from the poor and weak economy to a rising power.

The country wants to share the success and progress in resolving the decade-long conflict, concluding the peace process, creating an inclusive democracy, post-quake reconstruction and high growth trajectory. The maiden edition of the programme will be on 'climate change, mountains and future of humanity'.

Ambassador of the EU to Nepal Veronica Cody termed the programme 'of international importance' and 'timely'.

"Climate change is a direct and existential threat, it spares no country and requires a collective response. The topic is also very timely, given the urgency for nations to tackle the negative impacts of climate change," she said.

She said that the Sagarmatha Sambad would be complementary to other many discussions on climate change and draw attention of the world towards Nepal and other nations which had started bearing the brunt of this environmental phenomenon.

Ambassador Cody said that since the promulgation of the constitution and the establishment of a stable government, Nepal had become more confident of its place in the region and the world beyond. 

"This is an opportunity for Nepal to take the lead, on an issue of global concern, in a domain on which it has extensive knowledge and experience, and where it can help to create wider awareness and, most critically, action, to counter the impact of climate change on mountainous countries and regions," she said.

According to her, in future editions of the dialogue, Nepal could address other issues of regional or global interest, drawing on its own experience, tradition and political heritage – which could be of immense value to the international debate.

She pledged the EU's support in making the programme a success.

Ambassador of Qatar to Nepal, Yousif Bin Mohamed Al-Hail said that Nepal's unique geographic location and the existence of the highest summit on earth was one of the best places to discuss climate agenda to confirm international commitments and to have a thorough discussion among stakeholders and experts for solutions to the existing problems.

"Regular annual organization of the Sagarmata Sambad in Nepal would reveal the stability and progress of the country to the global and regional perspective and the positive role towards the urgent issues which in turn will be positively reflected in tourism promotion, more FDI, improved bilateral trade and better foreign relations," he said.

Ambassador Al-Hail suggested the government also to focus on local stakeholders' views and find out workable solutions.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal Park Young-sik termed the event of high importance that might create network as well as find solutions in addressing the climate-related problems.

"A high-level delegation from Korea is likely to be here in Nepal to attend the dialogue. There is also a possibility for a similar type of Nepali delegation to take part in a climate conference being held in Korea in June next year," he said.

Manjeev Singh Puri, Ambassador of India to Nepal who has recently concluded his tenure in Kathmandu, said that India was also interested to work with Nepal in the areas of climate change.

"India is always ready to protect the Himalayan region which is the largest source of the freshwater. We support Nepal's genuine demand to save the people from the brunt of climate change," he said in a talk with The Rising Nepal before leaving Nepal.

He hoped that the dialogue would be established as a multilateral forum to discuss common agenda.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2020.