Kathmandu, Jan. 17
Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Prakash Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Nepal, has expressed concerns over the rise of protectionism and economic
nationalism, of late.
Addressing the
NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Ministerial Meeting in Kampala, Uganda, on Wednesday,
Minister Saud said that while protectionism and economic nationalism were on
the rise, urgent call for the reform of global
economic and financial systems goes unheard.
"In
this intensely globalised and deeply interconnected world, deeper cooperation
is essential for finding solutions to global or regional problems we are
facing. Yet, promises and commitments made to provide Official Development Assistance
(ODA) to the developing countries and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are
not fulfilled," said FM Saud.
The NAM Ministerial Meeting
is being organised with the theme of “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global
Affluence”. It will run till Thursday, January 18.
The
Foreign Minister stated that the NAM must play a pivotal role in promoting
multilateralism, defending the UN Charter and international law, finding
peaceful solutions to disputes, reforming the global financial architectures,
creating a just global economic order for shared affluence.
FM
Saud suggested that the NAM must assert its collective voice to create an
inclusive global order where all countries can prosper together, sharing global
affluence equitably.
According
to him, the NAM, as a strong block with 120 countries representing around 60
per cent of the world’s population, holds both majority and moral strengths to
devise solutions to global problems that we face today- from conflicts to
climate change; economic injustice to social inequality; the digital divide to
debt distress, and hunger to disease.
"We must advocate for strong collaboration at the global
level, while securing collaboration among ourselves for trade, investment,
technology transfer, and more," he said and called for support to each
other's development aspirations, avoidance of vicious trap of suspicion and
rivalry amongst the NAM member countries.
He also said that the NAM should evolve into a dynamic forum to
shape a global order to address the interlocking global challenges of our time
based on its founding principles.
According to FM Saud, the NAM movement has become
a powerful political voice free from the prejudice of the polarity.
"We
are facing a multitude of crises and challenges. They include the persistent
impact of COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflicts, soaring food and energy
prices, inflation, debt burdens to name but a few," he said while stating
that the world is witnessing the worst nightmare in Gaza and has been bearing
the brunt of the Ukraine war.
It is perplexing
that as per the Global Peace Index, the deaths from global conflict increased
by 96 per cent in 2023, and 91 countries are now involved in some form of
conflict, said Minister Saud.
He also said that
while on one hand, the world is grappling with pandemic, poverty and hunger,
but on the other, arms races continue to rise, and so does global military
expenditure, on the other hand, human-induced climate catastrophes are creating
havoc in the world.
The
combined effect of these multiple and intersecting problems has badly impacted
developing countries, particularly poor and vulnerable ones, disproportionately,
according to him.
He also said that Nepal always conducted independent, objective,
balanced, and non-aligned foreign policy, and it never joined
any military alliance and never accepted to be a part of the security pact of
any country.
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