Kathmandu, Jan. 21
Minister
for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has stressed on close cooperation
among the members of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and partnership with
private businesses to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
“It
is needed to bring all aspects of lives, livelihoods, and economies to
normalcy, including the tourism sector. There is an urgent need to ensure easy
and affordable access to vaccines and other essential medical items to this end,”
he said while addressing the 17th Ministerial Meeting of ACD held virtually
on Thursday under the theme ‘The
new normal and safe and healthy tourism’.
Stating that the top priority of the Government of
Nepal is to protect people’s lives from the disease and hunger, the Foreign
Minister said that Nepal had scrupulously been executing safety, health and
sanitation protocols in all tourism related activities focusing to save jobs
and keep the economy afloat.
“Development and improvement of quality infrastructures is a key to
build all modes of connectivity in the ACD region, narrow the development gap, and
achieve equitable and inclusive growth, especially for a landlocked country
like Nepal,” he said according to a statement of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
Minister Gyawali emphasised the need for enhancing
cooperation and collaboration for mitigation and adaption of the adverse
impacts of climate change and natural disasters.
Expressing Nepal's full confidence on principles,
values and goals of the ACD, he said that ACD should play a significant role in
strengthening mutual trust, forging common understanding, and promoting
cooperation and collaboration among the members for peace, stability, shared development,
and prosperity of the Asian nations.
The meeting was hosted by Turkey which is the
current chair of the ACD.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 January 2021.
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